MANILA – Three members of Iloilo Mark Victoriano Pinggol (MVP) Taekwondo Gym will continue their taekwondo careers in Manila.
Joshua Caingitan Cachero has committed to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons taekwondo team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), following an outstanding high school career at the University of San Agustin.
The Leon, Iloilo-native is a decorated taekwondo jin, having won gold medals for Western Visayas and the Philippines at the 2018 Palarong Pambansa and the 2019 Tirak Taekwondo Championships in Thailand, respectively.
Even amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Cachero continues to win medals in numerous online taekwondo contests in which the Iloilo MVP Taekwondo stable competes.
“In taekwondo, there were ups and downs, but I always strive to reach my goal,” said Cachero. “I just continue to engage in sports during this pandemic to maintain a healthy mind and body.”
Cachero hopes to be one of the key players of the UP men’s taekwondo team, which failed to land a podium finish during the UAAP Season 82 men’s seniors taekwondo competition.
Meanwhile, Janna Ysabel Velez was tapped to play for the San Beda University, and JJ Smith Tenefranca joined Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Velez was a former University of San Agustin standout, while Tenefranca has suited up for St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets.
“We would like to congratulate our MVPinians for finding their new home, wishing everyone good luck and God bless. Continue chasing your dreams and always glorify God for everything you do,” Iloilo MVP wrote on its Facebook account./PN
