A Bacoleña was named Rookie of the Year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Taekwondo Championships this week.
Mary Angeline Alcantara from Barangay Estefania in Bacolod City emerged victorious in the recently concluded 86th season of the UAAP Women’s Taekwondo Kyorugi Championships held at the Marikina Sports Complex on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 28-29.
Alcantara, a rising star in the taekwondo scene, made her mark by clinching the highly coveted Rookie of the Year award.
She is the daughter of Jun Mark Alcantara, a driver at the Negros Occidental provincial government, and Angela Alcantara.
Alcantara has been a consistent performer under the mentorship of world-class taekwondo instructor Vic Feria at the Hanah Taekwondo Academy.
Her journey to success was highlighted by her groundbreaking achievements, notably being the first Filipina to secure a gold medal and Most Valuable Player award at the 3rd World Cadet Taekwondo Championships in Egypt in August 2017.
The UAAP Women’s Taekwondo Kyorugi Championships saw Alcantara, representing De La Salle University Manila, facing off against formidable opponents, opening her debut match with a close defeat against the seasoned Nica Garces of National University, who secured the win with just a one-point lead.
Undeterred, Alcantara rebounded spectacularly, dominating her next four matches against competitors from the University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, Ateneo, and University of Santo Tomas with an impressive almost 12-point gap in each encounter.
“It’s really a big achievement for me to win four of my five matches in my first UAAP run, but my ultimate goal is to have the team championship in the near future”, Alcantara said.
“I want to thank God for always giving me strength and guiding me to avoid injuries. Thank you to my Papa and Mama who are always supporting me, to Coach Vic Feria for teaching me all the techniques in Taekwondo that made me the player I am today, and to all my coaches in DLSU, Coach Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz, Coach Kirstie Alora and Coach Pogs Jazmines”, she said.*