Jiu jitsu practitioners in Baguio and Benguet clinched 15 gold, 16 silver and seven bronze medals in the recent Abu Dhabi AJP Tour Philippines 2023, the first time the prestigious event was held in the country.
Joanne Bognadon of Ronin Jiu Jitsu Matzone Baguio led athletes with three gold medals in gi, absolute gi, and no-gi events while teammate Seth Tauli had two gold medals in gi and no-gi.
Other medalists from the team were Ethan Niguel Salvador who won gold in gi and a bronze in no-gi while Keanu Raye Francisco settled for bronze in no-gi.
Ten jiu jitsu athletes from Team Baguio BJJ led by Georjan Langbayan, who won two golds in gi and no-gi also contributed in the region’s victorious campaign in the tournament.
Guillermo Baoidana won gold in no-gi and a bronze in gi while Prof. Gibran Langbayan settled for silver in gi.
Double silver medalists were Gabriel Andres and Kevin Bakian while those who won one silver apiece were Yves Austria, Sean Daza, and Tim Cam-ed. The bronze medalists were Jose Romando Carpio III and EJ Lozanta. – Harley F. Palangchao
