NEW CLARK CITY – The sport of sambo added to Team Philippines’ gold collection on Thursday as Chino Sy Tancontian and Mark Edward Striegl topped their respective events at the Angeles University Foundation.
Striegl, the former mixed martial arts fighter, scored a resounding 8-0 win over Ashvin Jaswant Singh of Singapore to win the gold in men’s sambo 74-kg category.
Not to be outdone, Sy, a former judo standout, also won a gold by defeating another Singaporean in Gary Chow Weng, 4-1, in the men’s 82 kg division.
Sambo, which originated in Russia and means 'self defense without a weapon,' is being played in the SEA Games for the first time.
Meanwhile, Rene “D’Catcher” Catalan bowed to Indonesia’s Fajar Fajar, settling for silver in the 57kg combat men sambo, 3-11.
The 40-year-old MMA fighter entered the match with an injured ankle, which he got from an elimination match.
"Disappointed ako kasi hindi ako umabot sa gold dahil sa injry, dapat 'yung semifinals ko gusto ko sanang laru-laruin lang para ma-save ko 'yung enegery ko for finals pero di ko talaga inexpect na ma-injury ako," he said.
Catalan said he suffered a tendon tear from a 'heel lock' by Thailand's Ritthidecha.
"Pumutok 'yung ankle ko pati tuhod, kung hindi ko pa sinabi sa referee na illegal 'yung ginawa, hindi pa mapapansin," he said.
"Kaya sana eh, baka naka-allout ako, tinry ko pero medyo limited na 'yung galaw ko, 'yung balancing iba na. Confident ako na makukuha ko gold, pero hindi ko nakita na sa semifinals ako maiinjure," he shared.
Still, Catalan got huge cheers from fans everytime he gets on his feet.
"Thankful ako asi eventhough na medyo nadisappoint ko sila, nandiyan pa rin sila nagpapalakas na tumayo para makuha 'yung gold." With Kate Reyes
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