MANILA: The Philippines is hoping for a successful campaign in the Asian Jiu-jitsu Championships scheduled in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from May 1 to 5. The team is bannered by 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalists Annie Ramirez (-57kg) and Meggie Ochoa (-48kg), and 2023 World Combat Games gold medalist Kaila Jenna Napolis (-52kg). Also competing in the women's division are Kimberly Anne Custodio and Ma. Daniella Palanca (-45kg); Jollirine Co (-48kg), Mariella Rafael (-52kg), Rosanna Andrea Nolido (-57kg), Andrea Lois Lao (-63kg), Apryl Jessica Eppinger and Anna Angelica Mitra (-70kg), and Joanne Pauline Tan and Dylan Chrystle Reign Valmores (+70kg). In the men's roster are Marc Alexander Lim and Michael Bryant Tiu (-69kg), Carlo Angelo Peña and Gregorio Antonio Abalos III (-56kg), Marc Francis Chua and Romeo John Alfred Raphael Arellano III (-94kg), Myron Myles Mangubat and Santino Luis Luzuriaga (-62kg), Dean Michael Roxas and Ivan Matthew Phoenix Oleta (-85kg), and Gerard Gallos and Philip Chri stopher Alegre (-77kg). Meanwhile, the Philippines has entered eight athletes in the Asian Youth Championships scheduled from May 5 to 8. They are sisters Ellise Xoe (U18 -40kg) and Eliecha Zoe (U21 -45kg) Malilay, Sean Khale Juatan (U16 -48kg), Earth Chang (U18 -55kg), Vito Luis Luzuriaga (U18 +85kg), Sachi Khonghun (-52kg), Yman Xavier Baluyo (U18 -66kg or -69kg), and Sebastien Blaize Posis-Cabanlig (U16 -52kg). The Malilay siblings won gold medals in their respective categories in the 2022 Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championships. "We came here prepared. I know that our athletes will do their best to give honor to the country," coach John Baylon said in an interview on Wednesday. Baylon, a multiple Southeast Asian (SEA) Games judo gold medalist before shifting to jiu-jitsu, is joined in the coaching staff by Allan Marcus, Stephen John Kamphuis, and Christopher Manuel Gallego (junior pool). Source: Philippines News Agency
