The Baguio judo athletes took home a gold, two silver medals and a lone bronze medal in the Philippine Sports Commission hosted 2021 Women’s Marts Festival Virtual Edition.

The seven arts discipline online competitions, a first of its kind, last July 8-10 featured judo, karatedo, muay Thai, arnis, pencak silat, taekwondo and wrestling.

Competing against 15 clubs nationwide, the team saw Zoey Itliong secure the gold in the juvenile category (kids ages 10 to 14 years old) to lead the march of Baguio athletes in the three day competition held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was 1-2 finish in the same category for Team Baguio as Daphne Aureen Pineda took second place in a field of 21 competitors.

Aliyana Lorenzo landed second in the seniors white belt category, while Yvonne Ghannah Aragon landed third in the same division.

The team won in two of the five categories of the competitions where players demonstrated a different set of techniques which judges scored based on their performance using a rubric system.

Known for their strength and wit, it was the first time team Baguio showcased the disciplines gentler side. The team represented by YMCA’s Kaitagi Judo Club is under former Southeast Asian Games gold winner Sharon Dino and silver medalist Racquel Lorenzo Salinas and Francine Rillera.

The team is looking forward for more virtual competitions as they continue to have online practices, added Dino, a member of the clan that has been at the forefront of judo playing here including the late two time Olympian Jerry Dino.