Philippines eyes to make impact at home in 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo tilt

Paolo Tancontian (left) and Arce Larida

Philippine Sportswriters Association

MANILA, Philippines — Given the hometown edge, the 21-member Pilipinas team is now “85% ready” and aims to excel in the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships scheduled June 23-28 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

“All 21 members of the Pilipinas sambo team are now 85 percent ready with the tournament less than a month away. They all aim to excel and do the country proud," said Pilipinas sambo national coach Arce Larida Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the PSC Media Center in Malate.

Joining him in the program was Pilipinas Sambo Federation president Paolo Tancontian, who revealed that more than 600 grapplers from 20 to 35 countries from all over Asia and Oceania will compete in grand sambo showcase presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

"We were expecting only about 500 athletes, but even now we are more than 400 already and more are still registering. We could wind up with over 500 entries from 31 countries if this trend continues," said Tancontian.

He said drawing this huge field was also in keeping with PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio’s advocacy in promoting sports tourism.

Larida noted among the top prospects in the meet sanctioned by the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), was Aislinn Yap, ranked No. 1 in the world, who won a gold medal in women's -80-kilogram combat sambo division in last year's edition held in Tashkent Uzbekistan.

Yap also bagged a bronze medal in the World Games in Chengdu, China last August.

“We also have Joemarie Torres in the women's 50kg division and is now ranked No. 7 in the world," added Larida in the session supported by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sport app ArenaPlus.

Among the medal hopefuls in the men's side, according to Larida, are Jason Palmes and Jarred Pamor in the 58kg sport sambo class, Godwin Langbayan in the 66kg combat sambo, Vincent Navares in -71kg sport sambo, and Angelo Salla in -71kg combat sambo.

Tancontian disclosed that it is still being decided if his own celebrated daughter, Sydney Sy Tancontian, a gold medalist women's +80kg in the 10th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships in 2025, would compete.

"Sydney had to look after me when I became sick and also had to take over some of my responsibilities in organizing the tournament," said the Sambo chief, who emerged from sickbay just a few days ago.

"We cannot make a mistake in our hosting because — who knows — in two to three years’ time, we might have the opportunity to host the world championships," Tancontian stressed.

"Any way whether my daughter competes or not, may mga 'secret weapon' pa rin tayo diyan, sambo athletes who can win for the country," he said with a meaningful smile. (PSA pool story)