TAKE it from a three-time SEA Games gold medalist Eduard Folayang: the future is bright for the Filipino sanda warriors that lorded over the 30th Southeast Asian Games wushu competitions.
The two-time One Lightweight World Champion was on hand at World Trade Center on Tuesday to witness the Philippines bag five of the seven golds at stake in the sanda event, including fellow Igorot Divine Wally who reigned in the women's sanda 46 kg category.
"Proud na proud ako sa kanya. Sinabi ko na maganda ang tinahak niya kasi syempre alam mo yung potential niya talaga. Kahit maliit siya, she’s been able to make it kaya very proud ako sa kanya and sa performance ng lahat ng wushu athletes," he said.
Also ruling their weight classes were Jessie Aligaga, Arnel Mandal, Francisco Solis, and Clemente Tabugara Jr.
Gideon Fred Padua, meanwhile, settled for silver in the men's 60 kg category.
Folayang, who won gold medals in the sanshou (sanda) tournaments in Ho Chi Minh 2003, Manila 2005, and Jakarta 2011, believes that if any of these fighters follow his footsteps and soon turn into mixed martial arts, they won't have much difficulty making the adjustment.
"I think maganda naman yung magiging transition nila doon," he said, insisting that he wants these fighters to go pave their ways and not be pressured after these string of triumphs. "Syempre ayaw natin hilahin sya ngayon. Nasa kanila na yun kung yun ang nakikita nilang next step ng career nila."
That also goes for the 24-year-old Wally, who Folayang sees can still reap medals representing the country in the next international tilts.
"As for now, I think she’s doing good in representing the country in this kind of sport. Meron pang Asian Games or siguro, Olympics. I just want the best for her. Siguro, the time will come pag tapos na siya," he said.
When that time comes, Folayang assured everyone of the sanda fighters that the Team Lakay door is open for any one of them.
"Depende sa kanila kung gusto nila mag-professional. Nandoon lang naman kami sa Baguio, madali kaming hanapin," he said.
"As for now, it’s better for them to keep on sharpening their skills. Yung MMA, nandyan lang yan, but for now, I think they need to smoothen pa yung level ng pag-compete para ma-represent pa nila ang country natin."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph