AAK Davao rules national tourney
THE Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao collected a total of 15 gold medals, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes in the just-concluded SM Super Karate Kids National Invitational Karate Championships held at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City.
Atsuko Kaiyel Tan, Kyzzhia Navarro, Janna Ramirez, John Paul Ponce and Darlene Maramara clinched two golds each in their respective events.
Tan, daughter of AAK Davao chief Rommel, won the mixed six to eight years old kata and girls six to seven years old kumite categories while Navarro topped the girls nine to 10 purple belt and higher kata event and 10-11 kumite.
Ramirez, for her part, ruled the girls 12-14 kata and the 14-15 kumite while Ponce copped the mixed 1214 kata and 12-13 kumite golds.
Maramara, meanwhile, annexed the girls 15-above purple belt-higher kata and girls 16-17 kumite golds.
Seth Navarro, Robert Avancena, Daryl Sulla and siblings Vince and Lanz Banda also accounted for one gold apiece in the tournament that drew 95 participants from AAK-Megamall, AAK-JRU, Shorei Kan Bukidnon, Tabal, Slug Karatedo Bukidnon, PKL Panabo and University of Mindanao Tagum.
Silver medalists were AAK-Davao karatekas Anna Arellano (girls nine-11), Christopher Cagandahan (mixed nine-11 kata and 10-11 kumite), Frea Davis (girls 12-14 kata), John Philip Cagandahan (mixed 12-14 kata), Adi Pascual (boys 15-above blue belt and lower), Sofia Agullo (girls 15-above purple belt-higher and girls 16-17 kumite), Jam Ramirez (boy's 15 years old and above purple belt and higher and boy's 16-17 years old kumite) and Sam Cartagena (boys 12-13 kumite).
AAK Davao's bronzes were courtesy of Marcus Arellano (mixed nine-11 kata and boys 8-9 kumite), Aldren Pascual (mixed 9-11 kata), Catagena Craige (mixed 12-14 kata), James Infiesto (mixed 12-14 kata), Ian Pascual (boys 15-above blue belt and lower and boys 14-15 kumite), Dodong Cornejo (boys 8-9 kumite), Lanz Banda (boys 10-11 kumite), Aldren Solon (boys 10-11 kumite), John Philip Cagandahan (boys 12-13 kumite) and Abi Solon (boys 16-17 kumite).
AAK-Davao then thanked sponors SM Lanang, Beefit Gym, Jay Ramirez, Claudia Villaluna, Ihana Suites, Homitori and Davao City Sports Council Incorporated. ABM