By NICK GIONGCO
The Filipinos’ in-born talent in fist fighting will be its main advantage when the eight-member kickboxing squad vies for the gold medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December.
This was the belief of Karol Maguide, one of six members of the men’s team that will have to contend with five other countries, including powerhouse Thailand and Vietnam during competitions scheduled Dec. 7-10 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
“Magaling tayo sa suntukan (We are very good in fist fighting),” said the 19-year-old Maguide, who also excels in Muay and wushu, during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel.
Maguide was accompanied by three other teammates and Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan and boxing coach Glenn Mondol.
Other hopefuls present during the Q&A include Ruel Catalan, brother of wushu standout Rene, Jomar Balangui and John Claude Saclad.
Chan feels the team is a force to be reckoned with.
“We are very much competitive,” said Chan, noting that the SKP, headed by Sen. Francis Tolentino, has thrown its full support to all the SEAG-bound bets.
Aside from boxing, the SKP also tapped the expertise of two-time taekwondo Olympian Donald Geisler from taekwondo and MMA ace Mark Sangiao to help the team.
To toughen up for the SEAG hostilities, the SEAG aspirants were sent to train in Taiwan and Cambodia.
“As such as we want to be confident, we would want to me modest,” said Chan, assuring that “everyone will be a medalist.”
