MOST VALUABLE PLAYER. Paolo Wong of Team Baguio Defenders poses with grandmaster Hong Sung Chon, chief instructor of the Philippine Taekwndo Association after being named 'Best Player' in the children's division in the annual “SMART-MVP Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships” held at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, August 21. Wong contributed 1- of 5-golds, 6-silvers, and 4-bronzes carted away by the Baguio Defenders making the do jang (gym) the best sparring team in the archipelago.**BDTDJ photo

 BAGUIOCITY– 30-gold medals. 12-regions. 500-jins. The Baguio Defenders Taekwondo Do Jang (BDTDJ) may have only managed five  golds... but five made them the ‘winningest’ team in the entire archipelago. 

BDTDJ, August 21, once again wreaked havoc in the national scene bagging 5-golds, 6-silvers, and 4-bronzes in the annual “SMART-MVP Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships” held at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. 

Leading the gold medal haul for the Baguio Defenders in the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) – sanctioned sparring tourney are elementary kids Luigi Paolo Wong (Grp. 2, Boys) and Monsour Salazar (Grp. 3, Boys). 

High school lady kicksters Brighty Salazar (Grp. 3, Girls), Suzzane Casalangen (Grp. 6, Girls); and Apriel Mae Solimen (Payer 3, Juniors Women) followed suit with equally superb performances in their respective divisions.  

Wong, who likewise bagged ‘Best Player’ honors in the children’s division, is from Hope Christian Academy (HCA). 

Monsour Salazar, Caslangen, and Solimen are members of the University of Baguio (UB) varsity; while Brighty Salazar is from Baguio City National High School (BCNHS). 

There were 11-Baguio Defenders jins going to the finals in the bash by the bay; settling for silvers however are UB’s Ailester Fias-ilon (Grp. 2, girls); Rencer Lavestre (Grp. 6, boys); and Billy Joe Soria (Palyer 1, Seniors Men). 

Patricia Sembrano (Player 1, Seniors Women), Ronnel Yadao (Player 2, Seniors Men) and lone Roxas Elementary lass Angelica Gaw (Grp. 3, Girls) likewise contributed hard fought silvers. 

Wrapping up the medal haul for the BDTDJ are UB’s Kate De Guzman (Grp. 4, Girls) and Keno Mendoza (Player 2, Juniors Men); Saint Luis University’s (SLU) Christian Duntugan (Grp. 4, Boys); and Anfernee Dizon (Player 3, Seniors Men).  

Baguio Defenders coach Arnold Oglayon said, “To qualify as participant, a jin must be a blackbelt; and must either be a member of the national team or a gold medal winner in regional, national, or international competitions sanctioned or recognized by PTA.” 

He added, “The ‘MVP Best of the Best’ is simply the biggest gathering of the country’s finest jins stringently screened by the PTA to qualify for the sparring competition.” 

The battle was so stiff, in fact, only national team stalwarts Brix Darmo Ramos and Daphne Alindogan dominated their respective events to bag golds for the Philippine Team. 

Meantime, other Baguio-based jins who shined in the same tournament include of Baguio-UFC gym’s John Astrologio (gold), Cherubim Tinipac (bronze), and Joshua Dizon (bronze). 

Braveheart Gym’s Kendrix Galian likewise displayed prowess managing gold; while his female counterpart Keyya David settled for silver.    

Earlier, the Defenders likewise carted away with 22-golds, 11-silvers, and 15-bronzes in 2010 PTA National Poomsae Championships besting a pool of over a thousand jins from the country’s 12-regions.**isl