By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Veterans Annie Ramirez and Kaila Napolis, fine-tuning for the 2025 World Games, banner a strong Philippine contingent to the 9th Asian Jiu-jitsu Championship slated May 23 to 26 in Amman, Jordan.
The 34-year-old Ramirez is seeing action in the women’s adult 57 kg – the same weight class she dominated at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China three years ago and the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2023.
Napolis, who won the gold in the 2023 World Combat Games and the bronze in the 2022 Asian Games, is competing in the women’s 52kg.
Joining Ramirez and Napolis in the Asian tournament are Kimberly Custodio (women’s adult -45 kg), Jolly Co (women’s adult -48 kg) and Dani Palanca (women’s adult -45 kg), who delivered medals along with Ramirez in the last edition of the tournament held in Aichi, Japan, as well as 2023 SEAG gold medalist Marc Lim (men’s Adult -69 kg), and 2023 SEAG bronze winner Myron Mangubat (men’s adult -62 kg).
Custodio also won the gold, Col took the silver, and Ramirez and Palanca the bronze medals in the 2024 JJIF World Championship in Heraklion, Greece.
Completing the cast are Gregorio Abalos III (men’s Adult -56 kg), Romeo Arellano (men’s Adult -94 kg), Yman Xavier Baluyo (men’s adult and Men’s U21 -69 kg), Ashley Baluyot (women’s adult -52 kg), Jhen Buzon (women’s adult fighting -52 kg), Shanta Carlos (women’s adult -48 kg), Earth Chang (men’s U21 -56 kg), Elijah Claravall (men’s adult fighting -77 kg), Andi Lao (women’s adult -63 kg), Santino de Luzuriaga (men’s adult and men’s U21 -62 kg), Vito de Luzuriaga (men’s U21 -85 kg);
Elinice Macatangay (women’s adult fighting -63 kg), Eliecha Malilay (women’s U21 -45 kg), Ellise Malilay (women’s U21 -45 kg), Jan Mendoza (women’s adult -57 kg), Angelica Mitra (women’s adult -70 kg), Carlo Pena (men’s adult -56 kg), Dean Roxas (men’s adult -85 kg), Rian Serranilla (men’s adult -77 kg), Ashton Subido (men’s U21 -56 kg), Blaine Tagudena (men’s U21 -62 kg), Joanne Tan (women’s adult -70 kg), Nino Tubola (men’s adult -77 kg), and Dylan Valmores (women’s adult +70 kg).
