Due to the impressive performance in the 2024 World Beach Sambo Championships, the leadership of the Philippine National Sambo team has made further efforts to complete the two major international tournaments in the country next year, which will continue to be guided by six-time World medalist and Beach Sambo bronze medalist Sydney Sy-Tancontian.
The Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. lines up the National squad to host the first Bong Bong Marcos “BBM Cup” in March 2025 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Music Hall and the 2025 World Beach Sambo Championships in the famous terrain of Boracay Island in Panay scheduled in September next year, to be led by incoming Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. Project Director Jose Antonio “Pepeton” Ejercito Goitia.
“With the recent success of our national athletes on the international stage, we just want to express our humble gratitude to our sports officials for their continuous support, that’s why we want to try to host two international events here in the country next year to show them what we have worked for in the past years by producing World medalists and being one of Asia’s best,” Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. President Paolo Tancontian said.
The National Sambo squad can be considered the best federation in Southeast Asia, with the first medalist in the World Championships, Sy-Tancontian, who won the first medal in Beach Sambo this past Sept. 7-8 in Casablanca, Morocco, as well as the first -timer Jeniva Consigna who won bronze in the women’s under-72 kgs category.
Aside from the siblings Sydney and Chino Sy, who won gold in the 2019 SEA Games in the country and several titles in the international competition, the national team consisting of combat fighters and mixed-martial arts champions Mark “Mugen” Striegl, Rene Catalan, Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan, Marianne Mariano, Jomary “The Zamboangena” Torres and Zus Combat World challenger John McLeary “Pirata” Ornido to continue to make waves in the 10-year-old sport in the country.
The National Sports Association (NSA), which originated from Davao City, also wants to show the continuous development of its grassroots sports program to its various local government units (LGUs) members, even the promotion of women’s sports in the University of Santo Tomas Sambo and Judo Club.
“We just want to show the Filipino people that we produce many athletes that provided more medals in international competitions, na karamihan ay galing sa grassroots and we don’t need to import (naturalized) athletes to perform abroad. Karamihan ng athletes natin ay organic na galing sa iba’t ibang public schools at universities,” explained Tancontian who also got the veteran local sports official Red Dumuk as Team Adviser.
Because of such successes, PSFI’s desire to strengthen women’s sports will be further emphasized by us, especially since Filipinos have greater hopes for martial arts or combat sports events. The target is to spread the knowledge of Sambo throughout the country by launching a series of teaching and seminars, especially in the provinces because it is an excellent chance for Filipinos to succeed in martial arts. After all, they are naturally combative and good at fighting.
“We’re looking and planning to have series of seminars na gagawin sa mga probinsya para maintindihan nila itong Sambo, kase in combat sports malaki ang pag-asa nating mga Filipino, especially in martial arts, may suntok, sipa, kase likas na magaling ang mga Pinoy pagdating sa mga combat sports, said Tancontian who is very grateful to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee President and Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino.
