Elite schools fight for honors in Smart/MVP PTL finals

MANILA, Philippines — After months of intense and exciting action, the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) will conclude its 2026 Smart/MVP Sports Foundation Philippine Taekwondo League (PTL) this weekend, with elite schools battling for bragging rights across various divisions.

Established in 2011, the PTL – through the able leadership of Grandmaster Hong Sung-chon – has continued to serve as a platform for student-athletes to develop their skills, showcase their talent, and demonstrate the values of discipline, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

The event, which started last June 6, will stage its semis matches on Saturday at the Ayala Malls, Manila Bay, while the finals and the awarding ceremony will take place on Sunday at the PTA Taekwondo Gymnasium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

University of the Philippines, National U, Far Eastern U, San Beda, La Salle and University of Santo Tomas are the leading title contenders in both the Kyorugi and Poomsae disciplines.

UP and NU sport perfect 5-0 win-loss records in the men’s division of Kyorugi, followed by FEU (4-2), San Beda (4-1), UST (3-1), St. Benilde (3-3), La Salle (2-2), Emilio Aguinaldo College (2-1), and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (1-5). NU and La Salle lead the women’s side with similar 4-0 cards in the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo.

UST is third with a 2-1 card, followed by San Beda (2-2), FEU (2-1), UP (2-1), DLS-CSB (1-2), EAC (1-2), PUP (0-4), and EARIST (0-4).

Meanwhile, the FEU jins are leading the way in the Poomsae competition with a 4-0 record.

, followed by NU (4-1), UST (3-0), UP (2-2), DLSU (1-3), and DLS-CSB (1-3).

NU and San Beda are 1-2 in the junior men with 3-0 and 2-0 records, while EAC and La Salle Greenhills are tied for third. UST is fourth (0-2). UST is leading the junior women’s category with a 3-0 card, followed by EAC (2-1), SBU (1-2), FEU (1-1), NU (1-0), and Diliman Preparatory School (1-0).