SOX arsinadores sweeps 14 gold in Anyo

It’s a sweet defense for the SOX Arnisadores after they did not only defended their championship title but exceeded their last year’s performances by winning a total of 14 Gold, 6 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals in Anyo events alone.
The team delivered their promise more than the 12 gold medals they won in the last year’s Palaro in Vigan City.
Coach Ryan Muyco said they were anxious at first since it’s not an assurance that if you win the championship last year, you will remain a champion.
He added, all eyes were on SOX Arnis Team and they do not know how the judges will take their performances.
What was on their mind was that they prepared and worked hard for all their routines, and their efforts finally paid off.
“We were finally relieved.” Coach Ryan Muyco said,
Nomer Buenaventura, Arnis team over-all trainer disclosed part of the innovations they did this year was the conduct of the daily training instead of weekly training only.
“We made different routines since we know everybody might copy or last year’s performances.” He said,
The Valdez sisters as expected made a huge contribution to the medal haul with five gold each in their respective categories.
Princess Sheryl Valdez (Girls/Elem) repeated her record with five gold in Anyo Individual Event-Single weapon, Anyo Individual Event-Double weapon; and Anyo Individual Event- Espada Y Daga; and team events such as Synchronized Single Weapon, and Synchronized Espada Y Daga with teammates Althea Charmene A. Delos Santos, and Maria Veronica C. Ilagan.
Her elder sister Shena May R. Valdez (Girls/Sec) also pocketed five gold in the Individual Events such as Anyo- Single Weapon, Anyo- Double Weapon and Anyo- Esapada Y Daga; and Team events such as Synchronized Single Weapon and Synchronized –Double weapon together with her teammates Joanna Marie L. Julaya and Stephanie L. Mones.
Other arsinadores who contributed to the winning feat include Miguel Johan Clavaton with two (2) Gold for the Individual –Single weapon and Individual –Double weapon ; and Cristian Dave A. Busion for the Individual-Espara Y Daga for Boys /Elementary Division.
While another gold was snatched later in the afternoon for the Synchronized Single Weapon (Boys/Secondary ) played by teammates Gerro Nicolas T. Casador, Mark Christian L. Kundimangin and Humphrey John A. Penuela.
There are still ten gold remaining medals at stake for the Labanan events but the team expected the medals to scatter in different athletic delegations.
Arnis, also known as Kali or Eskrima, uses stick, knife, sword or bare hands for fighting and defense. Considered as a national sport, it was first introduced as a regular sport in 2009 during the Palaro in Tacloban City and Region 12 was declared as the overall champion.
For three straight year, Region 12 regained its impressive victory by winning 9 gold in 2017, 12 gold in 2018 and 14 initial gold medals in this year’s palaro.
Tacurong City Sports Development Officer Rona Tacot expressed so much pride for the achievements of their Arnis Team, most of whom came from their division.
“There were only a few of us but we deliver results and this makes me happy,” Tacot said,
DepEd Region 12 is set to give these winning athletes cash incentives for every medal won. These include P20,000 for Gold, P5,000 for Silver and P3,000 for Bronze.