2009 Marikina Open Taekwondo Championships

After a few months of hiatus from actual competitions brought about by various activities at San Sebastian College - Recoletos (SSC-R) immediately after the 2008 National Age-Group Championships held last October 11-12, 2008 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS), six (6) Grade School jins from Team Recoletos plunged back into action last February 28, 2009 at the 2009 Marikina Open Taekwondo Championships held at the Roosevelt College - Marikina (RCM).

The six (6) select members of Team Recoletos who fought under the tutelage of Coach Jose Regie Madarang of Golden Eagle Taekwondo Chapter were high red-belter Gershom Norman Montes, low red-belters siblings Ma. Beatriz Francesca Paguia and Marion Emmanuel Paguia, high blue-belters Adryl Justine Ordonio, Ivan Andrei Erestain and Randell Jan Evaristo. All six (6) jins were up to the task as they all fought with big heart and determination. Five (5) of the six (6) jins went home with medals, the first time in the illustrious history of Team Recoletos where almost all its participants in a particular tournament of this magnitude brought home a medal.

Ordonio and Evaristo brought home the gold medals in their respective divisions while Emman Paguia won the silver medal in his division and Bianca Paguia and Erestain bagged bronze medals in their divisions. Montes lost to more experienced brown-belter in his first match.

Ordonio beat three (3) opponents on the way to his gold-medal winning performance while Evaristo drew a walkover in his first match then handily beat his opponent in the championship round. Emman Paguia also won his first match by default and gallantly fought his quicker opponent in the finals where he lost by a close 6 – 4 score after identical scores of 3 – 2 in the two (2) round finals match.

Bianca Paguia was on her way to a close victory in her semifinal match but eventually retired from the said match as she injured her right knee during a fierce exchange of heated kicks in the second round. Erestain, on the other hand, won his first match via sudden death after it ended in a 2-all standoff but lost out to fellow Golden Eagle member Sealtiel Madarang in the semifinals who eventually won the gold medal in their division. In fact, all the Madarang siblings won medals in the said tournament with Uriel and Ar-j also winning gold medals in their divisions and Paulina bagging the silver medal after suffering asthma in the finals that forced her to forfeit her match.

Truly a remarkable feat for Team Recoletos (and Team Golden Eagle, for that matter) as they continue to reap the dividends of a rigorous training they are undergoing at Marikina where they get to meet junior taekwondo players from other schools like De La Salle Greenhills, Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University.

BRAVO BASTE!!!