
YEARENDER: Martial arts top Davao sports in 2014
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Jan 2015

DAVAO CITY -- Martial artists of Davao City from different disciplines showed dominance in bagging honors from both the separate international and national competitions in 2014.
Taekwondo player Mary Anjelay Pelaez, a resident of Buhangin, topped them by pocketing the bronze medal in the women's -46 kg. in this year's Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea.
The 22-year old Pelaez, who also finished her degree in BS Marketing at the San Beda College last October as a varsity player, took her second Most Valuable Player award in the NCAA Season 90 in Manila.
She also won a bronze in the 2014 Asian Championship in Uzbekistan.
Pelaez's achievements in 2013 were also very impressived. She was a gold medalist both in the ASEAN Taekwondo Championship and in the Asian University Championship both held in Korea.
Pelaez, who was discovered in Palarong Pambansa and continued her training as a varsity player with San Beda and later under the national team, earned a bronze in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, a bronze in the Korea Open and a silver in World University Championships in Korea.
Pelaez, who is currently on vacation in Davao hopes to pay her courtesy call with Mayor Rody Duterte before she goes back to Manila to join the national taekwondo team next week.
Karate-do, a Japanese martial art, also earned honors in the international scene courtesy of the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) under former national player-coach Rommel Tan.
AAK bagged 7 golds with 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals in the 15th Malaysia Milo Open Karate Championship held June 6-8 in Kuala Lumpur.
Gabriel Quinones won 2 golds and 1 silvers and Carmela Marie Estarija got 2 golds.
The other medalists were Pavel Jervis Bacayo (1 gold), Julian Ambrose "Jam" Ramirez (1 gold, 1 bronze), Josh Andrew Worsley (1 gold), John Paul Ponce (1 silver, 1 bronze).
AAK Davao's "lean but mean" team in the 34th annual Singapore Invitational held September 13 earned 2 golds, 3 silvers and 3 brozes.
Quinones got 1 gold and 1 silver while Darlene Ross Maramara also did the same output 1 gold and 1 silver.
Ai Rina Kawano added 1 silver and 1 bronze while the other two bronzes were courtesy of Ramirez and Ponce.
The AAK Davao also stamped their class in the prestigious Adidas National Karatedo Age-Group Championships at the SM Marikina by bagging 6 golds, 5 silvers and 3 bronzes.
The medalists were Quinones (1 gold, 1 bronze), Estarija (1 gold, 1 silver), Worsley (1 gold), Ponce (2 silvers), Ramirez (1 silver), Lexine Tan (1 gold), Kizia Navarro 91 gold), Sophia Agolo (1 gold), Darryl Sulla (1 silver, 1 bronze) and Michael Navarro (1 bronze).
In the Philippine National Games held in Manila last May 16-25, Davao City got two golds courtesy of playing coach Bern Rexander Tacay and his younger sister Miyuki of the Shotokan Karatedo Association.
DC also pocketed four golds in the Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg held in Pagadian City last Sept. 10-14. They were Lya Marie Carillo, Ridlo Sumanang, Fernan Santoso and Izzan Nugraha.
In wushu, a Chinese martial arts, Evita Elise Zamora pocketed a bronze medal in the 12th World Wushu Championship held in Kuala Lumpur last Oct. 31-Nov. 5.
Sharmaine Florece earned a silver while Chester Ian Sevilla won a bronze in the Manila PNG.
In the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the Lim twins Mike and Mark and their teammates Jun Rannier and Mark Co of the Cenojas Mixed Martial Arts-Kamphiu Fabricio Davao (CMMA-KFD) all earned gold medals in the Philippine Jiu Jitsu National Championships held in Paranaque City last August 2-3.
In judo, also a Japanese martial arts, Jenielou Mosqueda grabbed the silver in the Myanmar SEA Games while the Davao City women's judo team won the gold in the National PRISAA Games held in Tagum City last April 6-12.
The players were Desireee Inciso, Sheila Mae Tanlocsin, Chello Tinga, Cyndi Amor Rodriguez, Damanique Dioquino, Christine Dyle Lozada and Reyan Jean Luma.
Inciso also got an individual gold medal together with Wilson Bonhoc and Jackielour Escarpe while Tinga and Tanlocsin each got a silver.
Meanwhile, Justin Angelo Tan, Tashea Mae Nabayra and Charis Delle Cunana were the gold medalists in the ABKA-Philippines American Bushido Martial Arts held May 24 in Davao City.
Chryster Terado earned a gold n the 1st KS Gensan Bushido tournament held in General Santos City last May 10. - LITO DELOS REYES
TOP ATHLETES.
The Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao under coach Rommel Tan (extreme left) during the 15th Malayasia Milo Open Karate Championships held in Kuala Lumpur.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Lito delos Reyes.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Paras ready to face Yokoyama on June 6
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 14 May 2026Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright II Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Thu, 14 May 2026Champion Outside the Ring: Gustavo Trujillo and Bio Cell Wellness Group Support Children with Autism Through Life-Changing Therapies
Thu, 14 May 2026IBA and WBA successfully deliver first joint professional training course for referees and judges
Wed, 13 May 2026GAB to give managers, matchmakers and trainers 3 years license
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 13 May 2026ROBIN “ROBZ” SAFAR TO FACE ARGENTINA’S HIGHLY RATED YAMIL PERALTA FOR WBC SILVER CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE
Wed, 13 May 2026Influencer/boxer Brooklyn Barwick anxious to Bounce back from first loss this Saturday in South Carolina
Wed, 13 May 2026Mama ready to facer Ayala in Mexico
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 13 May 2026Demecillo to fight undefeated Martin on May 16
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 13 May 2026‘Rumble at the Rink II’ card to feature Pro Boxing & Sports Entertainment Experience this Saturday in Quincy (MA)
Wed, 13 May 2026Oberio, Bernardino, Talaboc power QC past Isabela in PCAP chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 13 May 2026WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán on Barcelona-Real Madrid La Liga finals
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 12 May 2026Canadian Cruiserweight Contender Ryan Rozicki Fires Warning Shot at Chris Billam-Smith Ahead of Zuffa Boxing 07 showdown on June 6
Tue, 12 May 2026Judgement Day coming this Friday In Germany for Paddy Donovan
Tue, 12 May 2026Six Rounds to Silence the Magic Man: Why Rolando Dy is Malignaggi’s Worst Nightmare
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 11 May 2026