UP Taekwondo Kyorugi Team shines in UAAP Season 80

Photo by Marie Antoinette Dobuyan

The UP Taekwondo Kyorugi Team bagged a double podium finish in the UAAP Season 80 Taekwondo Championships held at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym last November 18, 2017. The men's team placed first runner-up — their best performance in the UAAP yet, while the women's team took home the second runner-up title. The Kyorugi team finally reclaimed a spot on the podium after three years and bagged a total of 1 gold, 1 silver, and 8 bronze medals in the players' respective weight divisions.

On the other hand, despite the gallant effort to once again finish the season with a podium appearance, the UP Taekwondo Poomsae Team fell short, placing fourth in the tournament. This is the first time the team was unable to place since the UAAP Poomsae tournament was officially established in 2013. The players garnered a total of four medals from the five Poomsae categories, bringing home 2 silver and 2 bronze medals for the university.

Photo by Marie Antoinette Dobuyan

KYORUGI MEDALISTS:

Gold:

Joshua Lazaro (featherweight)

Silver: Amber Emilia Litiatco Acosta (finweight)

Bronze: Kc Lozada (flyweight) Stephanie Osio (bantamweight) Beatrice Gaerlan (featherweight) Melyka Mungcal (welterweight) Jay-ar Alombro (finweight) Josiah Chen Mangubat Cabanag (flyweight) Karlos Gaerlan (lightweight) Joko Silverio (welterweight) POOMSAE MEDALISTS:

Silver: Aina Callos, Nikki Oliva & Patricia Jubelag (team female) Juan Sandoy, Llanto Lyan & Jay Galeno Buenavista (team male)

Bronze: Patricia Jubelag (individual female) Nikki Oliva & Jay Buenavista (mixed pair)

Kiana Cardeño is a 3rd year BA Journalism student and a member of the UP Taekwondo Poomsae Team

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