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Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Ex-champs rule 1st Motolite muaythai tilt
FORMER world, Asian and national champions Robert Bumina-Ang, Edgar Oya, Jessica Oyang, Victoriano Gesta, Emmanuel Sabrine, Swing Eliar, Ryan Willis, Jason Wakit and George Lusadan won in their respective weight categories in the 2006 Motolite National Muaythai Championship held over the weekend by the World Muaythai Federation (WMF) Philippines at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
Bumina-Ang, who was the 2004 Peace King Cup Mixed Martial Arts world champion and 2004/2005 welterweight muaythai national champion, defeated Domingo Vegapria of Powerhouse Team of the National Capital Region (NCR) in the senior men's welterweight division, while Oya, who was the 2002 Asian muaythai champion, 2002 bantamweight and 2001 light flyweight muaythai national champion, stopped Melvin Ordona of Cito Team from Cebu in the light weight division.
Oyang, the 2003-2005 flyweight muaythai national champion and 2003 Muaythi bronze medallist in Thailand Queen's Cup, trounced Perly Valdez of Black Panther Team from Pangasinan to win in the senior women's bantamweight division. Bumina-Ang, Oya and Oyang are from Benguet's Way of the Champion Team.
Gesta, who was the 2002-2003 lightweight kickboxing national champion, defeated Johnny Pagaduan of Pangasinan's Black Panther Team in the senior men's lightweight division, while Sabrine, who was the 2005 pinweight kickboxing national champion subdued Jim Bernie Bumakel of Ifugao's Banawe Team in the pinweight division. Eliar, who was the 2002 bantamweight kickboxing national champion, overcame Nelber Balang of Benguet's Wild Cat Team in the bantamweight division. Gesta represents the Cito Team from Cebu, while Sabrine is from the Chinese Kickboxing Team of NCR. Eliar, on the other hand, is from the Powerhouse Team of NCR.
Ryan Willis, who was the 2000, 2002 and 2005 flyweight muaythai national champion, stopped Randy Bulong of Benguet's Way of the Champion to win in the senior men's flyweight division. Wakit, who was the 2005 light middleweight muaythai national champion defeated Angelo Chung of NCR's Kampilan Team in the light middleweight division, while George Lusadan, who was a four-time national kickboxing champion and Wusho gold medallist in Myanmar overcame Christopher Lino of Benguet's Way of the Champion Team in the light flyweight division.
The First Motolite Muaythai Open hosted by Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista was participated by more than 20 muaythai teams who came as far as Marawi City, Cebu, Mindoro Island and Ifugao in the Cordilleras. About 55 bouts started off the elimination rounds of the tournament, which extended more than two hours due to the unexpected number of muaythai boxers who signed in.
Reigning Miss Fort Ilocandia Abby Cruz, herself a muaythai enthusiast, and WMF-Philippines poster girl, assisted in the giving of medals and trophies to the winners. Actor Ronnie Ricketts made an unexpected appearance to support his Bakbakan Team whose boxer John Philip Yeung won the gold over Hilberto Calibo of Powerhouse Team.
Taekwondo gold medallist Japoy Lzardo and Presidential adviser for youth affairs Roger Peyuan were among those who watched the first ever Motolite Muaythai Open.
Aside from Motolite as the event's presentor, the muaythai tourney was also sponsored by Solar Sports, Peak Martial Arts Equipment, Studio 23, Palawan's Repetek newspaper, Councilor Ramon Medalla Boxing Team and DZSR Sports Radio which aired the event live.
WMF-Philippines President Kru Brico Santig said the muaythai champions in various categories will compose the Philippine muaythai team that will compete in the 3rd World Muaythai Championship in Thailand on March 18 to 26.
Asif Mahmood and Jason Basa representing the Wai Kru Team of Elizardo Zhai Vallega won in the separate wai kru competition, which also featured the highly applauded silver-medallist George Lusadan from Ifugao. Vallega himself a national muaythai champion and former member of the Philippine Muaythai Team is an officer of the Muay Association of the Philippines.
Jomar Tumbaga of Way of the Champion Team and Edward Taguba of Black Panther Team won gold in the junior men's pinweight and flyweight categories, respectively, over Monico Pabus of Yaw Yan Team and Renuel Tumbaga of Way of the Champion.
Charry dela Cruz of Street Fighter Team and Laurio Sulpiano of Sekap Team ruled the senior men's featherweight and lightweight divisions over Jose Bruse of Tot Kon Ton Team and Michael Villeza of VMT Team.
Jujeath Nagaona of Wildcat Team and Jenneth Legaspi of Black Panther ruled the senior women's light and flyweight divisions over Jenny Nisperos of Black Panther and Nel Tanaza of Way of the Champion.
The Quezon City Rescue Team with Dr. Manny Vidad of Kaakbay oversaw the medical needs of injuries sustained by boxers in the ring. No major injuries however occurred in the amateur competition. The CEMG Group of WMF-Philippines secretary-general Ed Dames handled the non-stop action event. (Press release)
(March 7, 2006 issue)
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