JKS PKTS emerged as the overall champion in the 2023 Renshi Raymund Lee Reyes Memorial Cup karate championships held at the Robinsons Metro East in Pasig City over the weekend.

PKTS captured 19 golds, 12 silvers and 23 bronzes to clinch top spot in the prestigious one-day competition organized by the Philippine Karatedo Traditional and Sports in honor of the late founder and chairman of the PKTS and former secretary-general of the Philippine Karatedo Federation.

Of the 19 gold medals, PKTS bagged 12 kumite and seven kata.

JKS-MPPI finished runner-up with 16 golds, 19 silvers and 13 bronzes, while JKS-Vigan city wound up third overall with 11-11-8 gold-silver-bronze tally in the event which attracted a total of 519 entries from as far as Santiago, Isabela and Vigan, Ilocos Sur with ages from three to 35 years old.

PKTS Alpha (8-9-5) and Shoshinkan Karate International (8-2-3) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

PKTS president Rudy Ochoa and Chief Instructor Rex Maanao congratulated all the participants in the event on behalf of the Reyes family.

“We organized this event for Renshi Raymund Lee Reyes. We are really overwhelmed sa dami ng mga participants at sa init ng suporta ng mga karate clubs para kay Renshi Reyes,” said Ochoa,who plans to make the event an annual affair.

“Happy talaga kami kasi yung iniwan nyang legacy sa amin, pinagpapatuloy pa rin namin para sa kanya at ito yung hiling nya bago sya nawala,” said Maanao, referring to Reyes, who also served as deputy Chef de Mission in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2017 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

“Sobrang happy talaga ng family ni Renshi Raymund. Masaya sila dahil nakikita nila kung gaano kamahal ng karate community si Renshi Raymund,” he added.

Another close friend of Reyes, Seoul Olympian Cong. Monsour del Rosario, was also pleased with the success of the competition.

“Unang-una, gusto kong mag- congratulate sa mga organizers ng event. Natutuwa ako na gumawa kayo ng isang Karate Memorial Cup para sa kaibigan ko na si Raymund Lee Reyes, na isa sa mga nakasama kong sports leaders noon. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga parents at bata na nag-participate. Kayo po ang future ng karate. Huwag kayong tumigil mag-practice ng karate at siguraduhin nyong marating nyo yung blackbelt level.”

Charlotte Andrea Nakpil, Marketing Officer of Robinsons Metro East, was also happy to host the event.

“Full support talaga kami sa mga ganitong sporting event para sa kabataan. Instead na maglaro ang mga bata ng mga gadgets,Nae-enhance yung mga skills nila at nade-develop yung self-defense kahit maliit pa lang sila,” stressed Ms. Nakpil.

In her response, Reyes’ wife, Vangie Gomugda thanked PKTS and the individuals who supproted the competition.

“Natutuwa kami sa effort ng PKTS, pati na sa dami ng sumali at nag-suporta dito para kay Raymund. Sigurado akong natutuwa siya ngayon na makita yun bunga ng kanyan gmga pinaghirapan,” said Mrs.Reyes, whose eight-year-old daughter Barbie Yasmine won a bronze medal during the event.