St. Paul’s bet stuns Asiad jin in CPJ tourney

Teenager Antoinette Rivero of St. Paul’s Pasig scored a major reversal in the recent Petron CPJ (Carlos Palanca Jr.) taekwondo championships by beating Asian Games bronze medalist Veronica Domingo of FEU at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The 14-year-old, 5-foot-7 Rivero landed the harder blows to unseat Domingo in the women’s feather/light welterweight division.

However, the rest of the reigning national champions, led by Sydney Olympic veterans Roberto Cruz, Donald Geisler, Eva Marie Ditan and Jasmin Strachan kept their respective titles.

Cruz toppled Angelito Ong and Geisler whipped Ernesto Juan Mendoza III in the fin and welter classes, respectively, while Ditan beat Kathleen Alora and Strachan ripped Christine Calulo in the women’s fin and bantam levels, respectively.

Also making it to the men’s national pool were fly Tshomlee Go, bantam Manuel Rivero Jr., Jeferthom Go, Alexander Briones, middle Dindo Simpao and heavyweight Dax Alberto Morfe, who beat Efren Cudal, Romel Espiritu, Rodolfo Valenzuela Jr., Niño Balatao, Willie Ngo and Michael Alejandrino, respectively.

The others who qualified in the women’s division were flyweight Daleen Cordero and middle/heavyweight Margarita Bonifacio, who whipped Loraine Lorelie Catalan and Ann Margaret Boyle, respectively.

The other gold winners were:

Mid-junior men — Edison Bagaipo, Manila, super fin; Aries Jones Alviar, Zamboanga, fin; Giorgio de Guzman, EU, fly; Eric Jon de Leon, LSM, bantam; Yelnil Gabo, AIDA, feather; and Rafael Laforteza, LSGH, welter/middle heavyweight.

Mid-junior women — Pauline Reyes, NTU-Tiger, super fin; Roshelle Anne Lavalan, UE; Czarina Cabuco, Laguna, bantam; Jenefer Tayag, Zamboanga, feather; and Kirstie Alora, Laguna, light.

Junior men — Sandy Canino, Rizal, fin; John Paul Lizardo, DPS, fly; Joseph Gacoscos, Ilocos Sur, bantam; Romelle Roa, Letran, feather; Zaldy Bautista Jr., Teamsport, light; Brix Ramos, Teamsport, welter; and Ian Taylor Ignacio, ISM, middle/heavy.

Junior women — Gerrielyn Decatus, SSA, fin/fly; Sarah Joy Arellano, Letran, bantam; Esther Marie Singson, Central Gym, light/welter; and Sabrina Simbulan, DPS, middle/heavy.

Gradeschool boys — Michael Telequido, NTU-Tigers, Group 1; Gyle Genoso, LSM, Group 2, Dane Pio de Roda, San Beda, Group 3; Diego Navarro, Laguna, Group 4; Dennis Resaba, Central Gym, Group 5.

Gradeschool girls — Lourdes Labucay, Taytay, Group I; Jackee Yecyec, Laguna, Group 2; Rotrice Ashlee Lavalan, UE, Group 3; Cherie Villaester, NTU-Tigers, Group 4; and Nicle Raymundo, CSA, Group 5.