Monday, November 27, 2006 RP Eskrimadors rule By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Correspondent
FINALLY, the Filipinos dominated in their own martial art as the Cacoy Doce Pares Club usurped the title from the erstwhile champions from Australia in the 3rd Annual Cacoy Cañete Doce Pares World Eskrima Tournament, which wrapped up last Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The host team collared a total of 10 gold, eight silver and two bronze medals to snatch the over-all title in the competition, which ended with a seminar yesterday.
Arnis is a local form of martial arts, but many times, foreigners gobble the title in international competitions, leaving Filipinos scurrying for scraps.
Aussies second
The Australians, bannered by the International Combative Martial Arts Academy (Icma) of Adelaide, Southern Australia, settled for second place as it collected just seven gold medals. University of Cebu Arnis Club, headed by coach Max Caballes was at third place with four gold medals.
John Mac led Cacoy Arnis Club's charge as he won two gold medals in the Heavyweight, below 40 division dominating in the single stick and double sticks events.
Adding a gold medal each to Cacoy Arnis Club's haul are Melchor dela Sala (men's middle weight), Miko Cañete (boys 60kg) Ranran Guaca (Boys 40-60), Christopher Badal (men's middleweight), Chuck Cañete (lightweight), Allan Camigung (lightweight), Wilfredo Dival (middleweight) and Ariel Gerat (50-60kg-double sticks).
Fighter of the Year
Master Vince Palumbo, the delegation head for Australia, was named the Stickfighter of the Year after winning two gold medals.
Palumbo had topped in the super middle weight division of the single stick event and the heavyweight class of the double sticks.
Another Aussie, Andrea Wheatley, added two gold medals as she dominated in both the single stick and double sticks women's open weight divisions.
After dominating in the forms event with two golds in the opening and one in the women's kumite, UC managed to salvage just one more gold at the close of the tournament courtesy of Francis Berizo, who dominated in the men's super heavyweight after defeating Redge Wae Herman of Doce Pares.
The lean Indonesian team, which is led by Glenn Gardiner, ranked fourth with two golds, five silvers and three bronzes.
