Iloilo MVP taekwondo gym bags 12 medals in national tourney

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Iloilo Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym had another successful campaign, collecting 12 medals during the National Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships on Sept. 6, 2025, at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

Despite only days of rest after ruling the 2025 National Interschool Taekwondo Championships a week ago, the talented Ilonggo jins showed they still have enough gas left in the tank with another convincing national outing.

The young MVP stalwarts won five golds, three silvers, and four bronze medals, replicating their medal haul at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last week.

This time, it was in the kyorugi/sparring event, where the Iloilo MVP gym stood out the most, taking home three of their five total gold medals.

A strong showing in kyorugi sparked Iloilo MVP’s stint, led by Sophia Marie Bautista, Adenny Lourl Rivera, and Aeinna Nestley Gajasan.

Bautista copped gold in the Cadet Female Blackbelt under-44kg division, while Rivera and Gajasan reigned supreme in the Cadet Female Blackbelt U-37kg and Gradeschool Blackbelt U-160cm, respectively.

Following their victories, the last pair to deliver the final two gold medals for the Iloilo MVP gym were Cattaleya Julia Orozco and Ardah May Barrido in the poomsae event.

Orozco turned heads during the Gradeschool Female Redbelt category, while Barrido flaunted her skills in the Toddler Female Blackbelt.

Those who managed to bag the silver medal were Adrian Joseph Gajasan, Austine Zulaika, and Dominic Gabriel Capadosa.

Capping off Iloilo MVP’s campaign were bronze medals from Julianna Martha Uy, Amber Gale Abellar, Nathan Lee Dedal, Andria Margaret Palabrica, and Eujene Ivanka Castete.

Honorable mentions who competed in the tournament were Abby Lacanienta, Jan Emmanuele Dayata, Alexander Gajasan, Joshua Cachero, and Sophia Grace Go.