CAGAYAN de Oro City — Three gold medals and multiple podium finishes highlighted the performance of Pinecrest Taekwondo Center of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, at the 2026 Mindanao Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
Bea Lim, Thea Capote and Sam Mendoza won gold in their respective divisions during the Oct. 17–18 competition at the Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium.
The Pinecrest delegation also secured four silver medals through Jewel Bellingan, Shaugn Sambueno, Hanah Capote and Lharjie Cruza.
Dhanya Guinayon, Richard Hidalgo, Bree Mendoza and Raphael Lim added four bronze medals, giving the Bukidnon-based team a strong showing in the regional tournament.
Jasmine Corpuz and Martina Sangria also represented the club under head coach Miguel Lim.
1,178 athletes compete
The two-day competition brought together 1,178 athletes from across Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Participating delegations came from Regions IX, X, XI, XII and XIII, along with BARMM.
Grandmaster Sung Chon Hong and members of the Philippine Poomsae Team also attended the event.
Hong encouraged the athletes to enjoy the competition while learning from their opponents and building camaraderie.
“ To our participants, please enjoy your game, and learn, and develop camaraderie,” Hong told the athletes.
Top teams in the medal standings
Top Kicks Taekwondo Academy led the overall medal standings with 21 gold medals, followed by DMarsian’s Taekwondo Team with 14 and PNPTA Caraga with 13.
Lanao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Sittie Aminah D. Dimaporo said the Mindanao Civic Center Sports Complex was built to accommodate sporting events for athletes from across Mindanao.
She also expressed hope that the province would host more competitions, helping raise the standards of local sports and provide athletes with more opportunities to compete.
