Team Philippines captured its share of trophies and medals in the 2014 World Sport Stacking Championships held in Jeonju, South Korea, recently.
Composed mostly of students aged 8 to 18, Team Philippines brought home a total of eight trophies and 32 medals (7 golds, 14 silvers, 11 bronzes) from the event that lured 18 countries, including powerhouse USA, and 342 stackers.
Team Philippines was led by Irampehl Thesalonica Calibo, a 14-year-old from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, who wound up overall girls’ champion after posting the fastest total time in the (combined 3-3-3, 3-6-3 and cycle stack) finals. She took four trophies, a gold medal, two silvers and a bronze.
Kiarra C. Luarca, 16, of University of Santo Tomas, placed fourth overall in the girls division. She swept her events in the 15 to 18 years old girls’ division en route to three gold medals, a trophy, a silver and a bronze.
Jake Nieves of Don Bosco Technical College bagged two golds, a silver and a bronze in the 17-18 boys’ division; Kei Shirabe (University of the Philippines) won a gold and three silvers in the 17-18 boys’ division; and Alonzo Miguel Ramos (Sacred Heart Academy of Pasig) grabbed two trophies, two silvers and two bronzes in the 13-year-old boys’ division.
Others who shone were Jan Dominique Nedamo of Colegio San Agustin Biñan with a trophy, a silver and two bronzes in the 13-14 girls’ division; Kenneth Cadacio of Laguna Bel-Air Science School with a trophy, a silver and a bronze in the boys’ 15-16; Jose Rafael Blas Aguilay with a silver and a bronze in boys’ 17-18; Donovon Jose Panganiban of UST, a silver in boys’ 17-18 and Juan Manuel Ramos (Sacred Heart Academy of Pasig) a bronze.
Sisters Josefa Nieves and Fe Franklin, mother and aunt of Jake Nieves, pocketed silvers in team relay of the seniors division.
Earning certificates for making the finals were Jaden Andre Villena (De La Salle Lipa), Julya Aleksia Villena (De La Salle Lipa), Alfred Louis Enrile (Mapua Institute of Technology) and Raphael Lorenzo Enrile (St. Mary’s Academy).
The team was accompanied by Russel Bareño of Ban Kee Trading, Inc. and Toti Ramos, father of Alonzo Miguel and Juan Manuel.