North Luzon kickboxers vie for SEA Games spot

PAMPANGA. The Northern Luzon Kickboxing Alliance (NLKA) represented by 18 athletes and their coaches from seven gyms pay a courtesy call to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday morning, July 4 before heading to Tagaytay to compete in the national kickboxing tryouts for the 2019 SEA Games in December. (Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes)
PAMPANGA. The Northern Luzon Kickboxing Alliance (NLKA) represented by 18 athletes and their coaches from seven gyms pay a courtesy call to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday morning, July 4 before heading to Tagaytay to compete in the national kickboxing tryouts for the 2019 SEA Games in December. (Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes)

EIGHTEEN fighters from seven different gyms representing the North Luzon Kickboxing Alliance (NLKA) are on a three-day mission to fight for a spot in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games later this year.

After seven years, kickboxing comes alive in North Luzon through the invitation of the National Sports Association (NSA) to coaches in October 2018 informing their intent to build a competitive kickboxing team to represent the Philippines in the biennial SEA games.

This paved the birth of the North Luzon Kickboxing Alliance (NLKA) headed by president John Cay-ohen. More than 21 local gyms comprise the NLKA.

The group began to host kickboxing matches held at the Igorot Park in November 2018 to familiarize and expose athletes of the rules and regulations of the martial arts since most of the athleteswho competed have bases in karate, boxing, wushu and mixed martial arts.

“We are training the kids to continue the legacy in kickboxing” Cay-ohen said. “It (kickboxing) is the basic form of all arts in combative sports” he added.

More kickboxing competitions followed in January, February and March to screen potential Philippine team kickboxers. Among the competitors, 22 athletes were selected to try out from the NLKA but only 18 were able to push through.

On July 4, the group paid a courtesy call to Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong who pledged financial aid from the government to suffice the NLKA’s needs to compete in Tagaytay on July 5-7.

Competing in the men’s division are Vincent Aladin Falli-it and Nelson Bantiyan in the full contact 51kg category while Gilbert Dingcog Jr., Ugeanne Hope Ignas, Junell Cayatoc, and Chauvin Wacdagan will see action in the 57kg category.

Jomar Balangui and Richard Binojlan will fight in the 54 kg and under low kick category while Erwin Locaben will compete in the 60kg as Emmanuel Cantores, Kianlex Brent Baniaga, and Brandon Cabforo in seeing action in the 63.5 kg with Rheniel Garcia battling in the 69 kg kick light category.

Five women also seek a spot in the coveted SEA games.

Zyra Bon-as, Janica Alawas, and Saskia Holy Fagyan will fight in the 48 kg full contact category while Cazzel Gatinao and Janel Benzon competes in the 55 kg kick light category.

The pool of athletes underwent training in just under two months prior to the tryouts where they will battle against more seasoned kickboxers from all over the Philippines.

United with one goal, coaches Cay-ohen(Scorpion Martial Arts International Gym), Jerome Lumabas (Bauko Warriors), Cricket Villareal (Tribal Submission Team Torogi), Cyril Chayocas (Scorpion Martial Arts International Gym), Dare Malecdan (UB), Lou Roa (MAX Fusion) including technical officials, Noriel Acquisio (MAX Fusion), Dante Bon-as (Malayan Sports Combat), Brendaley Tarnate (Philippine Muayboran Academy), and John Naimes (Red Lion Club) hopes to produce members of the Philippine team in kickboxing NLKA.

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