PHL Arnis men’s squad hauls four golds

Angeles City — The Philippines has once again proved its prowess in the martial arts as the PHL Arnis men’s squad swept the opposition en route to clinching four gold medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) here.

The team of Dexler Bolambao, Nino Mark Talledo, Villardo Cunamay and Mike Banares proved to be too much for their counterparts as they dominated their respective weight categories in the full contact live stick competition.

The PHL team’s victories were masterfully done in unanimous fashion to the delight of the whole Philippine Arnis team and the Pinoy horde – which showed support in full force amid the sizable crowd at the AUF.

And while the Philippine crowd cheered wildly four times for the country’s bets, it also silenced itself four times, but with utmost solemnity and pride as the Philippine national anthem played four times to celebrate the victories in this bustling city rich in history and heritage.

Bolambao crushed Myanmar’s Soc Paing in the men’s bantamweight 55kg and below category while Talledo easily beat Vietnam’s Van Kein Vu in the men’s featherweight +55kg-60kg division.

Cunamay, on the other hand, displayed decisive aggressiveness in defeating Cambodia’s Mengly Yong in the men’s lightweight +60kg-65kg division, while Banares disposed Vietnam’s Thai Viet Phu in the men’s welterweight +65kg category.

Of the four victors, it was Bolambao who was more emotional as he dedicated his win to his sick mother apart from being proud combatants for the host country.

“I dedicate this win to my mother, who is ailing right now,” said an almost teary-eyed Bolambao.

Talledo, on the other hand, said that it was an honor to play for the country, while Cunamay and Banares were just glad to show their dominance against their foreign counterparts.

Also elated was Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Foundation chairman and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, saying that he is still hoping that arnis will be added in the Asian Games and – if possible – the Olympics.

“We should support the sport and our athletes,” said Zubiri. “Arnis is a popular sport even in the United States and Europe, and the martial art is also being promoted through some Hollywood films.”

He added that the sport is also the Philippines’ ‘secret weapon’ as he earlier predicted an 11-12 gold medal haul.

To recall, the Philippines is the undisputed force in the sport since arnis is a pure Filipino invention and its national martial art and its various techniques have been famously showcased on film by martial arts stars Bruce Lee and Steven Seagal and even by James Bond actor Daniel Craig in the Quantum of Solace.

Filipino-American Dan Inosanto is arnis’ brand ambassador in the US after he used the sticks in his face-off with Lee in the Game of Death.