Pinoy karatekas win in Italy tilt

Filipino karatekas competing in the two-day invitational 3rd Sardegna International Karate Tournament in Sardegna, Italy has so far won three gold, two silver and three bronze medals, according to results sent Sunday to media organizations by Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF). The Filipinos, currently based in Naples, Italy for their 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games training, won the gold and silver medals in the -65 kilogram male kumite and +60 kgs. female kumite. Roland Lagman and Raymond Franco arranged an all Filipino face-off in the gold medal match of the -65 kg male kumite while Cherli Tugday and Ma. Esperanza Manansala did the same in the +60 kg female kumite. Lagman won the gold in the men's -65 male kumite while Tugday pocketed the top medal in the +60 kg female kumite events of the tournament participated in by teams from Italy, France, Ireland and Greece. Mae Soriano, another Filipino, competing in the 53 kgs. female kumite, also won the gold medal while her compatriot Alma Concepcion salvaged a bronze medal finish. Also posting a podium finish were Erlando Metante (bronze, -70 kg male kumite), Jose Pabillore (bronze +80 kg male kumite). Competitions resume Sunday in France with the team kumite, male and female and open kumite championships. - GMANews.TV