CHENGDU, China. — Kaila Napolis emerged as the toast of the Philippine team hungry for victory in the 2025 World Games, assuring the country its first medal after advancing to the finals of the women’s ju-jitsu -52-kilogram ne-waza event at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium here Sunday.
Napolis won by advantage against Israel’s Pnina Aronov in overtime after the round ended in a 3-3 draw. The 28-year-old grappler will face South Korea’s Eon Ju Im, who earlier beat the Filipina in the preliminaries, in the gold medal match.
“I was impressed by Napolis’ performance. I hope she can win our first gold,” Team Philippines Chef de Mission Stephen Arapoc said.
Supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee under the leadership of President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Napolis tried several times to complete a triangle lock, to no avail.
In a disadvantageous position for the majority of the fight, the Israeli mounted a comeback and maneuvered for a rear-naked choke, which proved unsuccessful, thanks to Napolis’ defense crafted by his head coach and judo legend John Baylon.
In extra time, Napolis swiftly secured the first advantage on the mat, earning her the win.
Annie Ramirez, the reigning Asian Games Champion, dropped two of her bouts to bid goodbye in the women’s -57kg class. She, however, could bounce back in the open ne-waza category.
At the Sancha Lake Taohuadao Arena, Raph Trinidad came tantalizingly close to bagging the bronze in the cable men’s wakeboard event, with a late mistake in the final stunt denying him of his goal.
Cheered by his peers and even the Chinese crowd — with Trinidad being a big figure in the extreme water sport — the Filipino athlete had a fantastic stretch in the second run before a misread of his approach on the aerial trick proved costly to his medal ambition.
Trinidad finished fourth with 56.60 points. Frenchman Loic Deschaux topped the competition with a solid performance of 95.00 points, while Germans Max Milde (92.80) and Florian Weiherer (65.00) got the silver and bronze, respectively.
In billiards, Chezka Centeno carried the fight in women’s 10-ball after Savannah Easton of the USA 7-2. She faces hometown bet Yu Han on Monday at 9 a.m.
Southeast Asian Games champion Rubilen Amit was unlucky in the preliminaries and bowed to Pia Filler of Germany, 4-7. She battles another Chinese, Shasha Liu, in her next match.
Krizan Faith Collado defeated Elisabetta Sirto of Italy, 2-0, in the women’s wushu sanda -52kg event at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium.
