A 41-player Negros Taekwondo Union contingent left for Manila Wednesday to compete in the 30th Smart-Petron National Taekwondo Championships that starts Saturday at the Rizal Coliseum.

The delegation is composed of 23 players from NTU-Bacolod, nine from NTU-Talisay, six from NTU-La Carlota and three from NTU-Kabankalan, multi-titled coach Jimjim Chua, whose team has reigned in the junior women's advanced division from 2004 to 2006, said.

The squad will be led by former Southeast Asian Taekwondo Union gold medalists Crystal Pauline Reyes and Rubylyn Mapa, who will see action in the senior women's 44 kgs. and 58 kgs. divisions, respectively.

Also campaigning in the senior women's category are Reyes and Mapa's teammates John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod namely, Ma. Daphne Alindogan (50 kgs and Jeniffer Almodiel (58 kgs.).

Another JBLCF player is Dharlene Temporosa (46 kgs.), who will also be joined La Carlota College player Russelle Zamora (51 kgs.) as alternates.), Johanna dela Cruz (55 kgs.). Competing in the senior men's division is West Negros College standout Andy Perdigueros (59 kgs.).

Carlos Padilla V, a member of the national team, will vie in the 58 kgs. division, Jovan Rey Jereza (51kgs.), Carlito Cescar (60 kgs.) and Carlito Cescar (60 kgs.) are also entered in the senior men's division.

Chua said more than 2,000 jins from 500 clubs are expected to participate in the two-day event.

Supporting the campaign of the local jins are Negros Navigation Co., the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the Bacolod City Government, the Negros Occidental Cultural and Sports Foundation and the NTU parents.

Carrying the fight for NTU in the junior men's advanced are Rogelio Jereza Jr. (43 kgs.), Raymund Bermejo (55 kgs.), Renel Jardelleza (50 kgs.), Karlos Madrona (55 kgs.) and Precious Galo (87 kgs.).

Seeing action in the grade school boys' advance are Deb Matthew Daclan (127 cm.),JB Locsin (135 cm.), David Tom (139 cm.), Aziku Pama (145 cm.), James Palicte (150 cm.) with Jayson Locsin (134 cm.) as alternate.

The grade school girls' advance competitiors are Stephanie Lamayo (125 cm.), Irene Bermejo (129 cm.), Stephanie Cochico (140 cm.), Keila Montinola (152 cm.) and Guillan Lorca (158 cm.).

In the grade school boys' novice, the NTU players are Heinrich Trabadillo (124 cm.), Miguel Padilla (128 cm.), Michael Padilla (137 cm.) Jeffen Tibus (149 cm.) and Patrick Cloyd Cabatbat (154 cm.) with Neil Jandoquile (130 cm.) as alternate. Competing in the grade school girls' novice are Nikki Binguan (125 cm.), Dessa Dangallo (134 cm.), Jocel Almazora (136 cm.) Abegail Tio (151 cm.) and Kristen Romay (157 cm.). *CPT

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