Karatedo crew out to improve Laos finish

MANILA, Philippines - A relatively young Philippine karatedo team aims to match or surpass Filipino karatekas’ 1-2-3 gold-silver-bronze haul in the previous SEA Games in Laos.

“We have young bets but they had their international exposures which could well help them in Indonesia,” said team manager Raymund Lee Reyes.

“We’re hoping for a favorable draw. We get that and we may well improve on our showing the last time,” Reyes added.

Mae Soriano, Rexor Romaquin, Jayson Ramil Macaalay and Ramon Antonio Franco are considered as the team’s brightest medal hopes.

Soriano is the top bet in women’s 55kg, being an Asian championship bronze medal winner.

Romaquin (67kg), Macaalay (60kg) and Franco (55kg) can make the medal plays if they are able to build on their fine showing in the recent Asian and world meets.

“They advanced on those tournaments though they failed to reach the medal rounds. I feel their international exposures have raised their level of games,” said Reyes.

The other Phl karatedo bets are John Michael Badil, Ronnel Balingit, Orencio James delos Santos, Raquel Luzares and Eric Celine Samonte.

Marna Pabillore, the lone Phl karateka who won a gold in the Laos Games in 2009, is no longer with the team.

Seventeen gold medals are at stake in the Jakarta Games with seven to be disputed Sunday, eight on Monday and two on Tuesday.

The host country and Malaysia are tipped to fight for the overall championship.