CEBU CITY -- Divine Charisse Aseneta, who gave Davao City a second gold medal in the Philippine National Games (PNG) 2018 judo competition that closed at the University of San Carlos North Campus Gym Thursday, said her judoka parents influenced her to play the sport and excel in it.
Desiree Inciso clinched the first judo gold for the city in senior women's +78 kgs.
Aseneta, 19, a third year college Sports Science student at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, ruled the junior women's 63 kilograms division after copping a silver in senior women's 63 kgs event. She subdued Remieanne Pangilinan of Quezon City via Ippon.
"Sa parents ko, sa kanila ko inaalay ang aking mga tagumpay at napapanalunan na tropeyp o medalya sa bawat laro. Ipapakita ko sa kanila ang pinaghirapan at resulta ng aking pag-eensayo at lahat ng kanilang tinuro. Sila ang number one parents, coach, and cheerer. Kahit ngayong PNG 2018 hindi sila dumating at least maaasahan parin na mananalo ako at hindi ko sila binigo," she told SunStar Davao, pertaining to parents Jay and Ladory who used to be judo players turned instructors. Her mother is currently the Dean of Criminology at Holy Child College of Davao in Mintal while her father is an instructor of Davao Master Judo Club.
Aseneta, who started playing judo since six years old, said she had been eyeing the PNG gold and she prepared hard for it.
She also said, "I trained hard and also studied hard. Walang hadlang gaano man kahirap. Sayang naman yung pinahihirapan ko, every training kung matatalo lang ako."
Davao City also collected judo silvers courtesy of Honey Lorraine Dabucol (junior girls and senior women's -52 kgs), Jenielou Mosqueda (senior women's -52 kgs), Ryan Donor (senior and team division), Bless Ann Melecio (junior boys-48 kgs), Juanito Estimada (senior men's -90 kgs team), Marco Tumampad (-81 kgs team), Dominador Amargo (-73 kgs) and Kent Lemuel Bargio (-66 kgs team).
Bronze winners were Bless Ann Melecio (senior women's -48 kgs), Christine Dyle Lozada (senior women's -70 kgs, team), Marco Tumampad (senior men's -81 kgs), Dominador Amargo (junior boys -73 kgs), Honey Lorraine Dabucol (-52 kgs team), Geromae Dennise Roldan (-58 kgs seniors and team), Inciso (-63 kgs team) and Carl Aseneta (senior men 100 kgs).
The Davao City judokas thanked coach Edwin Pelaez, Davao Judo Association president Eduardo Estores and the city government of Davao for their support.