UPSETS rocked the PEKAF Battle of Champions that served as the national arnis team tryouts for the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games over the weekend at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Organized by the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation led by Senate President Miguel Zubiri, the two-day event to decide the composition of the 16-man national team that will compete in the regional games in May lured close to 300 entries from all over the country.
It will mark the first time the ethnic combat sport will be played in the SEA Games outside of the Philippines.
Considered among the biggest upsets in the tournament witnessed by Zubiri at ringside was the close loss of 2019 SEA Games bantamweight gold medalist Jesfer Huquire to University of Baguio’s Ezekyl Habig, who took the gold by superiority after they fought to a 1-all standoff in the padded stick event.
Likewise on the short end of the score was 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jezebel Morcillo, who took a 0-3 beating from Lapu-Lapu City’s Maria Ella Alcoseba in the women’s live stick bantamweight finals.
National team members Jerrichmond dela Cruz and Jordan Bradley Cruz were also among the casualties, falling in the semifinals of the men’s 90.1-100-kilogram and +100kg divisions won by Cagayan de Oro’s Sanie Mark Bongcaras and Tagum City’s Harrison Cerillo, respectively.
Also among the surprises in the competition was Lapu-Lapu City’s Ma. Crystal Jane Sapio, who bested the members of the national pool in bagging the gold medal in the music-aided 18 to 45-year-old women’s single stick anyo (forms) with a top score of 47. 8 points.
National head coach Richardson Gialogo said some upsets were expected “considering that this is the first time we are having a big competition in more than two years since the pandemic.
“What we have gathered here are the best arnisadors from all the country,” he added.
Zubiri also explained that “obviously some of these athletes are hungry to represent our country in the SEA Games in Cambodia, seeing the rewards that our national athletes garnered during the 2019 SEA Games.
“Marami sa kanila talagang gutom na magkamit ng tagumpay at magbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa,” Zubiri said.
