Taekwondo 3-peat bros. appeal for ‘maximum gov’t support’ to fulfill Olympic dream

Taekwondo jins and brothers Dustin Jacob and Raphael Enrico Mella successfully defended their title at the recently concluded 2017 SEA Games, after earning a three-peat victory in the men's poomsae category.

The Mella brothers bagged the gold medal for a third time with teammate Rodolfo Reyes Jr. The trio had previously won in the same category in the 2013 and 2015 editions of the biennial multi-sport event.

[Read related: PHL’s 24 gold medals in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia]

In an interview with GMA News, the Mellas said their road to SEA Games gold was no easy feat, saying they encountered "disappointments" along the way, including the lack of support for a sport which they hope would soon be added to the Olympics.

"We're really aiming for Olympic gold so the Philippine Sports Commission, they really support yung mga nagpe-perform sa Asian, SEA Games na competition," Dustin said.

However, the Mellas said while they and other budding athletes receive support from the government, no matter how minuscule, the MVP Sports Foundation through the Philippine Taekwondo Association, and other private institutions, more assistance is still needed.

Dustin said all types of sports, and not just a select few, should be supported both by the government and private sectors.

"The whole Philippine sports has to work harder, work smarter na yung excellence is not... dapat hindi selective areas. Dapat yung culture of excellence has to be in everything," Dustin said.

"It's a reality that the Philippines is not super rich, the government. It's a big help na yung private entities are sana sumuporta — sana makita yung support lalo na sa sports na hindi pa ganun ka-sikat kasi lahat naman in the end sasali sa Olympics."

In the national team's case, the Mellas hope that they would be provided with bigger facilities, better equipment in the weights gym, food supplies or a canteen, and other improvements to help the team improve their chances.

"All we want is maximum support from the government," Raphael said.

Poomsae gold medallists Dustin and Rafael Mella show off some moves on @gmanews's FB Live stream. pic.twitter.com/T4h2gfX4LY

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) September 7, 2017

Possible road to Olympics

Regardless of what happens, the brothers said they wanted to represent the Philippines as long as they can.

"I've been playing for the national team since 2010," said Dustin, the current taekwondo coach for poomsae of the National University.

"Hopefully, hanggang 2020, 2022. I'll see where the path takes me."

"As long as time permits me," Raphael said. "I'll have to wait for what opportunities come before I even think about retiring."

The pair are hopeful that with the inclusion of poomsae in next year's Asian Games, the category will eventually be included in the Olympics.

"My dream for the Philippines is we become a top contender in the Olympics, we become a premiere sporting country. Sports is not just for entertainment, it represents the spirit of the people, camaraderie," Dustin said. "I hope that if we improve sports, it will improve the nation as a whole."

On their latest SEA Games victory, the brothers admitted feeling the pressure as expectations were high for them to keep their poomsae title.

"Every time, mas malaki yung pressure kasi ine-expect ng Philippine sports na i-maintain namin yung position namin," Dustin said, adding, "We just do our part na we do our best for the Philippines."

It was also a matter of translating their hard work into physical triumphs.

.@mavgonzales takes a selfie with Dustin and Rafael Mella, gold medallists for the PHL Taekwando Team. Q&A now live on @gmanews ' FB page pic.twitter.com/gBT6dlfkLk

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) September 7, 2017

Discipline and training

The brothers were raised in the sport at a young age partly due to the influence of their father, Taekwondo National Team training director Tem Igor Mella, himself part of the national team in 1995.

Until his graduation last year, Dustin practiced with Raphael and the taekwondo team for four to seven hours a day except on Saturdays while managing coursework for Business Economics at UP Diliman.

Raphael, now on his fourth year, is doing the same with his Computer Systems Engineering major at the De La Salle University. But years of juggling training and school life put the brothers in a comfortable groove.

"It's just really time management. Kumbaga, 'pag national athlete ka and, actually varsity rin kami sa school — ako habang nagaaral ako... set your priorities. Training, family, rest. It's hard, but as long as you do it right, it's not much of a hassle," Dustin said.

— MDM, GMA News