Eighteen years after Rene Catalan took wushu gold in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Manila, his younger brother Robin duplicated the feat this time in another sport and in Cambodia.
Robin, a mixed martial artist by trade, took gold in the bokator combat minus-50 event after beating Indonesia’s Ade Permana at Hall C of the Changvar Convention Centre.
This is the second gold so far for the makeshift Philippine team after young Angel Derla took the women’s single bamboo shield form event of the tournament on opening day.
Moreover, this is the 17th gold of the Philippines so far in the Games.
Rounding out the podium for the combat minus-50 division were Vietnam’s Nguyeng Quang Luan and Cambodia’s Sovan Nang.
Other members of the Philippine team that medalled in the sport are Ariel Lee Lampacan (silver, combat -55kg), Philip Delarmino (bronze, combat -60kg), Godwin Langbayan (combat, -70kg), Mark James Lacao (single bamboo shield form); James Al Mayagma, Rick Rod Ortega, and Fred Jizmundo (bronze, team bare hands form); Rhichein Yosorez (bronze, combat -45kg), Alyssa Mallari (silver, combat -50kg), Marianne Mariano (silver, combat -55kg), Geli Bulaong (silver, combat -60kg), Rhichiein Yosorez (silver, single bare hands form), Alyssa Mallari (bronze, single bokator spirit form), Mitz Jalandon (bronze, single phkak form); and Angel Derla, Jessa Dela Cruz, and Shara Jizmundo (bronze, team bare hands form).
The team formed by Muay Thai’s Pearl Managuelod only had nine weeks to learn the sport and be ready for the tournament.
The national bokator team is composed of martial artists from various disciplines, including mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and wushu.
