ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — Winning all but six of the 20 gold medals marked the grand return of the Phl arnis team in the biennial games.
And the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation didn’t only bask in its glorious feat but also in the sport’s rebirth.
“I promised the country 12 golds and I’m happy we delivered more,” said PEKAF president and Sen. Miguel Zubiri after Mary Aldeguer and Crisamuel Delfin romped off with the anyo non-traditional Open weapon golds in their respective divisions at the close of the competitions before a cheering crowd at the Angeles University Foundation here yesterday.
The twin wins brought to 14 the total number of golds delivered by the arnis squad, making it the frontrunner for the best-performing NSA (national sports association) in the two-week Games.
“We were very happy, very impressed,” said PEKAF executive director Dominic Lacbayo. “We’re happy that we surpassed our projection (of 12 golds). But more so because, for us, it’s the rebirth of arnis as our national sport.”
He cited the team’s discipline and no-nonsense six-month training at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex that primed them up for the biennial meet before dominating their dual meet with Myanmar and Cambodia in the run-up to the Games.
Playing to an ethnic tune and wearing an Igorot-inspired bahag or a narrow piece of cloth attached to the waist, Delfin, 25, dazzled the crowd as well as the judges, who gave him a score of 9.83 points, enough to edge Vietnamese Duc Tri Do, who scored 9.70 points.
“I’m a proud Igorot and I want to show to everyone our rich heritage,” said Delfin, who hails from La Trinidad, Benguet, in Filipino.
Aldeguer, 21, for her part, bucked a sprained left toe she reinjured in her winning performance, finishing with 9.63 to likewise nip Vietnam’s Van Huynh, who took the silver with 9.57.
“I tripped during my routine and sprained a left toe. But I didn’t let it affect me and show it to the judges and just fought like a warrior,” said Aldeguer, a Rizal native.
Mark David Puzon and Ryssa Jezzel Sanchez actually had a chance to improve the Filipinos’ total harvest but both fell short and wound up with silvers in the men and women traditional open weapon.
The gold went to Vietnam’s Duc Tri Do and Myanmar’s Eilan Dray Phoo.
As dancesport took center stage in Day One with its 10-gold assault, arnis produced five then added seven in the second day before capping their solid showing with two.
Other winners were Dexter Bolambao, Villard Cunamay, Mark Talledo, Mike Banares, Jezebel Morcilla, Abegail Abad, Mae Soriano, Ashley Monville, Sheena del Monte, Carloyd Tejada, Elmer Manlapas and Jester Huquire.