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Monday, April 25, 2005
Baylon champion of champions in judo championships
By JADE S. VIOLETA
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
PHILIPPINE team members Jouhn Baylon and Estie Gay Liwanen came out as the most durable fighters in their respective categories as they ruled yesterday’s Battle of the Champions of the Philippine National Individual Judo Championships at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Zamboanga City’s Baylon, a six-time Southeast Asian Games judo gold medalist and the current top juduka of the national team, used his speed advantage over his heavier foe and national teammate, Sidney Schwarzkoph, to snare the gold in the Men’s Open of the three-day event organized by the Philippine Amateur Judo Association under its president Reynaldo Jaylo.
The 81-kilogram division king, Baylon, who conquered a total of seven weight division champions and eight silver medalists on his way to the championship round, had to battle the tough 100kg champion Schwarzkoph for an extra five minutes before he was able to pin down the latter for 10 seconds in the first minute of the extra period to nail the win.
Among those who tasted Baylon’s strength in the elimination round were Under-73kg king Gilbert Ramirez, Men’s 55-Under silver medalist Oliver Franco and Men’s Under-66 ruler Aristotle Lucero.
The 22-year-old Liwanen, who booked a ticket into yesterday’s ultimate fight by snaring the 63kg Under crown during the opening day at the University of San Carlos Gym, bested Erika Joy Ponciano, a silver medalist in the Women’s 78kg category, in their championship battle after the former was able to pin down the latter in the final minute and 24 seconds of their match.
Liwanen, who honed her judo skills at the University of Baguio before transferring to Muntinlupa when she was drafted by the RP team three years ago, campaigned for the country in the 2003 Vietnam Seag, where she bowed out in the semifinal round.
“I still have to train hard,” Liwanen told Sun.Star Cebu after her match, referring to her readiness for this year’s SEA Games.
(April 25, 2005 issue)
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