CHAMPION. University of Baguio's Bety Mae Churping (back row, 2nd from left) captures the women's 52kg gold medal in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Games Luzon leg kickboxing competition at the Tagaytay Combat Sports Center on Thursday (Sept. 21, 2023). With her on the podium are (L-R) silver medalist Maria Reina Bantaya of Cavite State University and bronze medalists Maria Gwynneth Puno of Tarlac State University and Jheykye Aguinoas of Don Mariano Marcos State University South La Union campus. (Contributed photo)
CAVITE – University of Baguio (UB) bet Bety Mae Churping stamped her class over Cavite State University's Maria Reina Bantaya to claim her first kickboxing gold medal in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Games Luzon leg at the Tagaytay Combat Sports Center on Thursday.
The BS Criminology sophomore won the match via submission with 46 seconds remaining in Round 1 of the women's 52kg category in the Philippine Army division.
"Kumpiyansa ako na manalo dahil nakita ko kung paano siya lumaban (I was confident to win because I saw how she fought)," the 19-year-old muay Thai practitioner for the past four years said.
Churping's gold medal victory earned her a spot in the National Championships later this year. She topped the 45kg category in the regional tournament at PhilSports in Pasig City on July 17-24.
"Hindi ko sure kung mananalo ako ulit dahil sigurado na maraming magagaling sa National Championships. Kailangan kong maghanda nang husto para maging maganda ang performance ko (I'm not sure if I'll win again because there are many fighters at the National Championships. I have to prepare a lot to perform well)," she said.
She trains under Zaidi Laruan Bugtong and Darinton Colas at the Lions Nation Gym, which is owned by former mixed martial arts champion and SEAG gold medalist in wushu sanda Eduard Folayang.
Other UB fighters who ruled their respective categories were Christopher John Manipon over Novem Lozano of PLT College Inc. in the men's 57kg via technical knockout and Dominic Boligan over University of Batangas-Lipa’s Aaron Carl Recinto (3-0).
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy also collected three gold medals coming from Klenov Rei Pacada (men's 63.5kg), Geron Mark Pugao (men's 60kg) and Minya Isabella Sta. Rosa (women's 60kg) in the Philippine Navy division.
The other gold medal winners were Richerstone Angelo Fesetan of Tarlac State University (men's 60kg) and Pauline Gallardo of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo in Laguna (women's 60kg) in the Philippine Army.
Meanwhile, Tarlac State University defeated Luzon State University, 25-15, 25-17, 25-13 in the women's volleyball competition at the Cavite State University Don Severino delas Alas campus gymnasium in Indang.
In other matches, Fullbright College rallied past Philippine State College of Aeronautics, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-16, and Bulacan Agricultural State College clobbered College of Science and Technology, 25-4, 25-4, 25-13. (PNA)
