KUALA LUMPUR -- National coach Ranni Ann Ortega was impressed with the performance of her poomsae players in the 29th Southeast Asian Games here.
The men's team of siblings Dustin Jacob and Rafael Enrico Mella, and Rudolfo Reyes Jr. successfully defended its title to give the Philippines its first gold in the competition held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The Malaysian team of Chew Wei Yan, Kok Jun Ee and Yong Jin Kun bagged the silver while the Vietnam team of Ho Thanh Phong, Le Hieu Nghia and Nguyen Thien Phung took the bronze medal.
Aside from the gold in the men's team, the Philippines also won two bronze medals coming from the men's individual event and the women's team event.
Reyes finished third behind gold winner Chew Wei Yan of Malaysia and silver medalist Maulana Haidir of Indonesia in the men's individual event while the women's team of Rinna Babanto, a silver medalist in the 2015 SEA Games; Jocel Lyn Ninobla and Juvenile Faye Crisostomo settled for the bronze.
Vietnam's Chau Tuyet Van, Lien Thi Tuyet and Nguyen Thi Le Kim clinched the gold medal while Thailand's Katesara Kiatatchawachai, Ornawee Srisahakit and Phenkanya Phaisankiattikun pocketed the silver medal.
"They were excellent," said the 31-year-old Ortega in an interview on Sunday. She is a two-time world champion and back-to-back gold winner in the 2009 (Laos) and 2011 (Pelembang, Indonesia) SEA Games.
"Their performance was their best yet," added Ortega, won the gold in World Championship in Egypt (2009) and Mexico (2014).
Rafael Enrico, the younger of the Mella siblings, said he is happy for winning gold again. "We did our best and we are glad for bringing honor to the country," said the 21-year-old student from De La Salle University.
Last year, he won the silver in the Asian Championships in Manila and was a member of the team that won the bronze medal in the World Championships in Peru.
In preparation for the SEA Games, the national taekwondo team joined the Korea Open this year. Next month, the team will compete in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (PNA)
