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The numbers are there to prove it: Arnis will certainly be a big contributor to the Philippine Team’s campaign in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA) that will come to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the first time the sport will appear on foreign soil in the 11th – meet the nation.
With only four countries participating, all 40 Filipino arnisadors during the Games are almost guaranteed to reach the podium.
The Philippine Kali Arnis Eskrima Federation (Pekaf) just concluded its qualifying tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila with the winners forming the core of the 40-player line-up heading to Cambodia where 12 golds are at stake.
“I can’t give you the number of 12, but our target is definitely to get a majority [of the gold medals],” said Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who leads Pekaf as chairman and president.
According to Pekaf executive vice president Gerald Cañete, male and female Filipino arnisadors will compete in four weight divisions – bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight – in live and soft stick sparring competitions with a total of eight events.
The remaining four events are team competition (“anyo”).
“This is our national sport. I hope we can beat our opponents in the SEA Games,” Zubiri said.
The nation bagged 14 of the 20 gold medals at stake during the 2019 edition along with four silver and two bronze medals.
a strong enemy
Apart from the Philippines, only Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia will be there, guaranteeing that all 40 arnisadors going to the Phnom Penh edition from May 5 to 17 will not go home empty-handed, each guaranteed at least a bronze. medal.
“Our opponents have gotten stronger. Vietnam has caught up, Cambodia has advantages in front of the court and Myanmar has a Filipino coach who has trained them,” said Zubiri, who is the marching order of the Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino to sweep all the gold.
“It’s hard to tell. It’s a competition. We will only do our best and win many golds,” added Zubiri, a former national arnisador who won many medals for the country during his prime.
Impressive in qualifying for the SEA Games was Anthony Cris Luna of the University of Cebu with two gold medals and fellow Cebuanos Trixie Mary Lofranco, Kurt John Cristobal and Maria Ella Alcoseba.
San Fernando’s Kamya Verano, Fitzel Leal, Angelique Cruz and Anjeanette Brillantes made Luzon proud while Tacurong City’s Brent Randolph Pauya and Digos City’s Chainna Rosauro were valuable finds from Mindanao. INQ
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