PHILIPPINE Karatedo Federation (PKF) President Joey Romasanta said that the PKF is set host the 2nd Southeast Asian Karatedo Championships on April 18 to 21 at the Fontana in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Romasanta, also the first vice-president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said that the meet would serve as tune-up games for Philippine karatekas joining the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December.

“This is a great opportunity for us to scout our opponents in the SEA Games,” said Romasanta, a former Gintong Alay director during the late 1980’s. “We are expecting many participants to come.”

Romasanta said that the PKF would field only their second team in the four-day event. Competing in the tourney are 11 nations led by Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.

“We cannot expose our Team A to other countries because they are also busy preparing for the SEA Games,” he said. “Our Team A will go to Iran to train and compete in one tournament as part also of their SEA Games preparation.”

Among the members of the Philippine squad are Engine Dagohoy, Princess Cicangco, Joana Ylanan, Racquel Lozares, Mai Soriano, Jason Macalalay, Rexo Romaquin, Michael Badil, Mabel Arevalo and Ogie de los Santos.