THE Los Angeles Doce Pares of the US and the Cubacub Martial Arts Club Inc. (Cmaci) dominated the opening day of the 1st Cebu City Mayor’s Cup Eskrima Tournament at the Mountainside Event Center of SM Seaside City yesterday.
Jerome Macaraeg won the gold medal after beating Yawyan Eskrima’s Emiliano Dacuyan via unanimous decision, 30-27, to bag the gold medal of the 51 years old and above Senior B competition.
Hubbard Tabay followed suit, scoring an identical unanimous decision, 30-27, over Dante Lendio also of Yawyan Eskrima in the Senior A’s 40-50-year-old category to give the US-based eskrimadors a rousing start in the sparring competitions.
Macaraeg and Tabay were part of the 12 US-based arnisadors who had their belt promotions exam last Thursday at the Doce Pares International headquarters in Banilad.
All 12 competed in the competition, which was participated in by more than 400 eskrimadors from Cebu and out-of-town clubs, including a 15-man Philippine Army squad.
“There could have been more if we did not turn down some entries from Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu Province, because they failed to submit their entries on time. However, rest assured that we will accommodate them next month,” said Philippine Eskrima-Kali Arnis Federation (Pekaf) executive vice president Gerald Cañete. (RCM)