INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?This University of Santo Tomas taekwondo-jin aims to conquer the continent before the year ends.

After copping the UAAP Athlete of the Year award, Marlon Avenido trains his sights on the taekwondo gold in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, this November.

?I?ve been practicing hard for the Asian Games because it?s the main event for this year,? said Avenido, who picked up a silver in the welterweight class in his first Southeast Asian Games foray in Laos last year.

Avenido, a national team member since 2007, also received a citation for his international achievements to lead over 100 varsity athletes honored by the league for representing the country in various meets.

?I?d like to thank my school for bringing out the best in me,? Avenido said in his acceptance speech during the 72nd UAAP Annual Awards at the Far Eastern University auditorium Thursday night.

UST swimmer Gian Berino also shared the spotlight as the junior Athlete of the Year after setting three league records in a four-gold romp.

UST, represented by Fr. Ermito de Sagon and Felicitas Francisco, received the UAAP general championship both in the senior and junior divisions to cap another scintillating season for the Tigers.

Avenido, a 21-year-old talent from Basilan, bagged a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Taekwondo Championship and a silver in the Asian Martial Arts Games.

?I?ve always wanted to be a part of the national team and play for our country, to play in the Olympic games,? said Avenido, a junior Behavioral Science student. ?It?s a dream that?s why I came to Manila.?