Jocel Lyn Ninobla was better prepared when she claimed the gold medal in the first-ever SMART/MVP Sports Foundation Online National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.
Ninobla's victory in a European tournament last month gave Ninobla a chance to be better.
“Sa Daedo, medyo biglaan. Although prepared kami, we never stopped training. Short notice po kasi iyun. Kaya pagdating ng nationals, I was inspired,” said Ninobla.
It was Ninobla's second championship this year after earlier claiming the gold in the Under-30 Female Division of the first-ever Online Daedo Open European Poomsae Championships in Spain.
She tallied 8.333 points to take the black belt senior female division over the weekend in the competitions which attracted 33 participants.
“I’m very thankful that my hard work paid off. God truly sees our efforts in our quiet and alone moments when nobody is watching,” said Ninobla.
Ninobla is best remembered on her final year with University of Santo Tomas when she took home the gold in the women's individual event during her last year back in Season 80,
National teammate Aidane Laxa settled for the silver with 8.150 points with Daphne Ching in third (8.100) and Mikee Regala (8.067) also taking the bronze.
SEA Games silver medallist Patrick Perez struck gold with a score of 7.967 to rule the men's side.
He bested Raphael Mella, who had 7.933 points.
Joshua Cachero (7.750) and Dominic Navarro (7.733) claimed the bronze.
Ninobla had a lower average score of 7.565 in the Daedo event.
Raquel Sanchez of Spain and Mahsa Sadeghi of Iran had identical scores of 7.515 to place second third.
