AAK Davao karatekas shine anew

THE Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao bagged a total of 16 gold medals, 13 silvers and 11 bronzes to emerge champion in the 2012 Cherifer-Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Karatedo Age Group and Seniors Championships held at the The Annex OF SM City Davao entertainment center.

Comatcom placed second with five golds, three silvers and 11 bronzes while Bukidnon settled for third with three golds, four silvers and six bronzes.

Carmela Estarija, Oona Barnes, Vivian Cortez and Angelica Noro each brought home two gold medals for AAK Davao.

Estarija clinched the girls 14-17 years old purple belt above kata and followed it up with another gold in the girls 14-15 years old kumite while Barnes sezied the girls 10-11 purple belt above kata before winning the girls 10-11 kumite.

Cortez topped the girls 12-13 kata and kumite events while Noro emerged champion in the the girls 14-17 blue belt above kata and the girls 16-17 kumite.

PJ Bacayo added a gold for AAK Davao after ruling the boys 16-17 kumite at the expense of teammate Arthur Lao III and General Santos City's John Gallarde who settled with the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Mark Gamayo of AAK Davao shared the limelight by winning the boys 10-13 kumite gold over Bukidnon's TC Vash Marshburn and teammate Manuel Sy who salvaged the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Other gold medalists for AAK Davao were Jamaica Quiben (girls 10-11 blue belt above kata), Kick Aquino (boys 6-7 kata), JP Ponce (boys 8-9 kata), Gabriel Qui¤onez (boys 12-13 kata), Denzel Maramara (boys 14-15 kata) and Kenneth Arthur Lao III (boys 16-17 kata).

The gold medalists for Comatcom were Rachel Rellin (senior women's -55 kilograms kumite), Janine Villar (senior women's open weight kumite), Pepito Common (boys 14-15 kumite), Shammah Calimbo (senior men's -70 kgs kumite) and Teodoro Belisario (senior men's open weight kumite).

The gold medal winners for Bukidnon, meanwhile, were Michael Jacutin (senior men's -60 kgs kumite), Buhawi Madera (boys 6-9 kumite) and TC Vash Marshburn (boys 10-11 kata).

Jonamil Prado of Mati City, for her part, copped two golds by topping the girls 6-9 kata and kumite events.

AAK Davao chief Rommel Tan said the gold and silver medalists from each category will represent Davao City in the National Inter-School Championships which will be held in De La Salle University Greenhills on February next year.

The karatefest was backed by PSC and Cherifer also served as tune-up for the participants that will compete in the 2nd Vietnhat Karatedo Championship in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 20 to 21. (Ruji Peter S. Abat)