Bonding, teamwork secrets to kickboxing team’s success

Jean Claude Saclag of the Philippines (red) connects an ax kick to the face of his opponent from Malaysia Mohammad Mahmoud (blue) in the kickboxing final of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. INQUIRER PHOTO/EDWIN BACASMAS

The Philippines’ kickboxing standouts outdid themselves on Tuesday night when they racked up six medals—three of them gold—in the Southeast Asian Games.

“Vietnam has been the top kickboxing country in Southeast Asia,” Wharton Chan, Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas secretary general, told the Inquirer. “The Philippines did its best to be at par with Vietnam’s highly experienced athletes.”

Jean Claude Saclag, Gina Iniong and Jerry Olsim bagged gold medals; Jomar Balangui and Reynalyn Dacquel tabbed silvers while Karl Maguide contributed the bronze.

“There’s a secret to all of this,” said Mark Sangiao, the team’s head coach. “Teamwork.”

“We housed them [in Benguet] and had them focus for a month,” he said. “That’s really why we had a good preparation.”