Far Eastern University (FEU) Jins and Lady Jins gathered a total of 15 individual and team medals that helped them clinch the General Championship title in the 2022 Smart/Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF) National Interschool Taekwondo Championships held at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City last October 1 to 2.

The Jins won six gold, three silver, and one bronze medal in the senior men’s category of the Kyurogi event and another bronze award in the senior men’s team category of the Poomsae event.

Meanwhile, Lady Jins Tricia Padua, Czarina Danganan, and Pauline Marquez added three more awards after landing a bronze podium finish for the individual category of the Sparring event.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, FEU Jins Team Captain Joe Yap who bagged a bronze medal in the Sparring event under the Welterweight Division in Kyorugi shared how confident they were going into the tournament.

“It was a hard-fought game for all of us kasi malalaking universities din po ang aming mga nakalaro pero with all the trainings na pinagdaanan namin, we are indeed confident na mauuwi namin ang trophy (It was a hard-fought game for all of us as we faced big universities but with all the trainings we went through, we are indeed confident that we will bring home the trophy),” Yap stated.

The successful stint in the said tourney also made Lady Jins Team Captain Regina Abello mention that it would help them in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Taekwondo tournament.

“I think this win will help me and my team sa upcoming UAAP kasi malalaman namin eh, nakikita namin if sinu-sino na magiging posible na kakalabanin namin. Nakikita [rin] namin kung saan ‘yung mali sa mga galaw namin na dapat itama sa mga darating pa na games lalong lalo na ang UAAP kasi we are looking forward talaga sa podium finish this season (I think this win will help me and my team in the upcoming UAAP because we get to see who our possible opponents are. We also get to see where we can improve for the coming games especially in the UAAP because we are looking forward to a podium finish this season),” Abello said during the online interview with FEU Advocate.

The UAAP Season 85 Taekwondo tournament for both men’s and women’s divisions will start on November 28 to 29 hosted by Ateneo de Manila University.

-Angel Joyce C. Basa

(Photo courtesy of Joe Yap and Regina Abello)