DUMAGUETE 2-2-2 IN POF MUAY THAI by James U. Sy, Jr.

6 Muay Thai boxers from the Dumaguete Muay Association brought home a 2-2-2 medal haul for the city at the conclusion of the 2nd Philippine Olympic Festival (POF)-Visayas Regional Qualifying Tournament held last September 12 to 16 in Iloilo City.

Junjun Sinco, 18, and Dexter Melon, 16, were crowned champions for the Seniors 45-48 kg. and Juniors 54-57 kg. categories respectively.

Cris Abriel Lingcong, 16, and Krisna Limbaga, 18, took the silver medals in the Juniors 51-54 kg. and Women’s 45-48 kg. divisions respectively.

John Rey Bendijo and Romnick Carbellido got the bronze medals in the Juniors 42-45 kg. and Seniors 48-51 events.

With these achievements, Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices promised to grant college scholarships to Melon, Sinco, Lingcong and Carbellido, who are out-of-school youths, at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).

The Dumaguete Muay Thai Team was trained by Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) Visayas Head and Junob National High School Civil Technology teacher Kru Ike Xavier S. Villaflores and coached by Dumaguete Muay Association President and Dumaguete City High School teacher Bernabe Bustillo.

The young Muay Thai boxers had to train 3 hours everyday and do roadwork to increase and maintain endurance. Their hard work paid off. Gold medallists Sinco and Melon as well as silver medallists Limbaga will again see action in the 2nd Philippine Olympic Festival (POF) national competition scheduled this November 2007.

The Dumaguete Muay Association sent Romnick Pabalate to join the Philippine National Muay Team last Year. Pabalate was crowned champion in the 45-48 kg. category during the 2005 Visayas Amateur Muay Thai Championships organized by the Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) in cooperation with the Larena LGU last April 28-29, 2005 in Larena, Siquijor.

Two young Muay Thai boxers of the Dumaguete Muay Association were crowned champions in their respective divisions during the 1st Philippine Olympic Festival Philippine Muay Thai League last June 24, 2006 at SM Manila, Manila.