JJS karatekas shine in nat’l karatedo tourney

22nd PKF National Championship awarding ceremony with RP karatedo player Noel Espinosa

Razhel Gee Mengullo captured the gold while Dante Jose Samonte III finished with a silver as the Jack & Jill School karatedo team, representing Bacolod City, displayed their skills during the May 6-10, 2009 Philippine Karatedo Feredation National Age-Group and Open Championship in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Mengullo breezed through her first bout in the 10-11 girls’ kumite against a Zamboangeña foe, scoring roundhouse kicks to the body that earned her two points and kicks to the head for three additional points, to prevail in the cards, 5-1, and advanced to the next round.

Against a karateka from the National Capital Region in her second bout, Mengullo sneaked in three punches while the NCR entry scored a lone reverse punch for a 3-1 decision in favor of the Bacoleña jin.

The semifinals bout between Bacolod and Cebu ended 4-2 as Mengullo scored on two reverse punches and a roundhouse kick to the rib cage for four points while her Cebu opponent earned two points for two punches.

In the championship round, Mengullo and her Dagupan City rival proved to be equal in strength and skills as the score was tied, 3-3, after one minute and 45 seconds in the match.

A punch from Mengullo that found the abdomen of her foe before the game ends, earned the Bacoleña another point for a 4-3 victory.

Meanwhile, Samonte settled for the silver medal in boys’ 8 years old and below kata-advance after performing a “Jihon” kata or shotokan style.

The gold went to Cebu’s entry who performed a Shito-ryu and Shorin-ryu styles.

Also reaching the quarterfinals in the 8-9 years old girls’ kumite was JJS karateka Jasmine Claire Veniegas who hurdled her first bout against NCR after the latter was slapped with a disqualification due to excessive blows to the face of the Bacoleña.

Veniegas, however, failed to advance to the semis after losing to her counterpart from General Santos City, 2-4.*Nida A. Buenafe/Visayan Daily Star

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