THE MARTIAL PROWESS of the San Beda Red Jins was showcased at the recently-concluded 16th ASEAN Taekwondo Championship held last March 11 and 12 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Paranaque City.
In an interview with Red Jins’ Taekwondo Head Coach Jun Rosquillo, he explained that for their preparation for this competition, he trained his athletes twice a day with a lot of pep talks and encouragement together with the guidance of Ora et Labora.
When asked about his preparation, Matthew Tereuel, the Red Jins gold medalist, said that he just followed the kind of training that Beda has. “Nag stick lang ako sa training ng Beda. Base sa performance ko nung laban na yun, maayos naman naipakita ko, pero di parin ako nakukuntento kaya lagi parin ako gusto pa matuto, lumakas, mag-training, at gumaling sa taekwondo,” Tereuel elaborated.
Tereuel also acknowledged that the ASEAN Taekwondo Championship was on a different level. Each country brought forth their best players, resulting in a showcase of extraordinary talent and skill.
Despite the Red Jins’ dedication, the team faced various challenges during the competition, wherein some athletes experienced nerves, considering it was their first international event following the pandemic-induced lockdown.
“Kaba at takot. Alam naman natin ang taekwondo ay isang physical contact sports. Pero dapat mental toughness. Inisip ko nalang na laban lang kahit anong mangyari. Tapang lang dapat kasi kung wala ang tapang, di ko mailalabas ang tunay kong laro kasi nangibabaw ang takot,” Tureuel added, revealing the mental challenges he faced during the championship.
Coach Jun stated that “we’re fortunate enough to have a few players that got selected to represent our country in terms of performance, I can say Red Jins are in the right track and they did good on the competition.”
Additionally, Coach Jun highlighted that their triumphs were truly a product of rigorous training regimen, which involved daily sessions, intensive sparring, and friendly matches against other schools.
As a message to aspiring players, Tereuel encouraged young athletes to continuously strive for achievements and build an impressive track record. Tereuel attested that credentials earned not only open doors for future opportunities but also garner respect and recognition within the sporting community.
Tereuel did not forget to express his unfeigned gratitude to the Bedan community. “Salamat sa pag suporta. Salamat sa lahat, mention nyo na lahat scholar, meal, health card. Salamat din dahil napansin nyo rin kaming ibang sports. Di ko nga aakalain na may makaka acknowledge sakin. I appreciate and thank you,” he shared.
The San Beda Red Jins are currently preparing for upcoming events and competitions throughout the year. They are gearing towards the NCAA and Philippine Taekwondo League (PTL) tournaments.
(With Rizian Veniz Balleta)
