ALL sambo roads lead to UP Town Center in Quezon City for the staging of the “Sambo Super Fight” on October 2.

Sambo Pilipinas president Paolo Tancontian said the event is expected to bring together the country’s leading sambo practitioners for a whole day of fun and excitement aimed at bringing the sport closer to the people.

“It will be a sambo festival like no other. We’ll showcase the best sambo stars both local and international for a whole day of celebration,” said Tancontian during the 36th “Sports on Air” vodcast recently.

“Actually, marami din tayong invited na mga international sambo practitioners. Matagal na itong plano na magkaroon tayo ng malaking sambo tournaments, pero nagkaroon nga ng pandemic. Kaya we’re very happy na unti-unti na tayong nagbabalik sa normal,” explained Tancontian, adding the last major international sambo competition was held in the country last 2019.

“Next month, we will have about 20 bouts feauring 40 fighters. Piling-pili na ang mga ito at pawang magagaling at handang sumabak sa mga international competitions.

Gusto talaga naming ipakita yun combat-style sambo, na para talagang MMA at magandang panoorin.”

The Davao City-based Tancontian said sambo stars from Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Malaysia have been invited to take part.

“We’re finalizing the list and we will announce the foreign participants soon.”

Tancontian claimed the “Super Sambo Fight” will be a good exposure to local sambo stars now preparing for various international competitions, such as the FISU-organized World Universiade Games and even the PSC-supported Women’s Martial Arts Festival in November.

“Wala man ang sambo sa susunod na SEA Games sa Cambodia sa 2023, tuloy-tuloy pa din dapat ang training ng mga national team members. Sa last SEAG meeting, nangako naman ang host Thailand na sa 2025 SEA Games, nandun uli ang sambo. At syempre, madami pa din dapat paghandaan, gaya nitong Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games sa Thailand.”

“Actually itong Super Fight ay mostly para sa women’s combat sambo natin, na parang tune-up na din para kina Mariane Mariano at Mylene Matias at iba pang players natin from UST.”

He said several top-notch referees from Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia are also coming to conduct clinics as part of the festival.

“Actually, na-invite na natin yun national team head coach ng Russia nung 2019 before the pandemic sa tulong na din ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). Si Coach Mikail na siya pong nag-training sa national team natin, lalo na ang sambo originated from Russia. Pero dahil nga sa sitwasyon dun ngayon, siguro iinvite muna natin yung mga kalapit nating countries, like Kazakhstan,” explained Tancontian.

The former sambo athlete-turned- official thanked the PSC for its continued support.

“Ang PSC tuloy-tuloy naman ang suporta kahit nung pandemic kaya malaking pasalamat ko, especially kay Atty. Iroy na walang sawang tumutulong lalo na sa mga allowances ng athletes, Malaking tulong din ang PSC kay Sydney (Sy) dahil karamihan ng mga competitions, self-financed talaga.”

“Sa ngayon, kung may hihingin man kaming tulong sa PSC ay yung mga fighting gears at iba pang gamit. Wala mga yun sa market at sa Russia pa kailangang i-order kaya medyo may kamahalan ang mga gamit, The last time we ordered was 2019 pa kaya medyo kumukupas na. Pagdating sa international copetitions, sisitahin ka kasi medyo luma na nga at kupas ang uniform natin.”

“Pero sabi nga, hindi naman nagpapabaya ang mga atleta natin. Patuloy silang nagsisikap at ginagawa ang lahat ng makakaya para mabigyan ng karangalan ang ating bansa,” added Tancontian.

For Tancontian and Sambo Pilipinas. there’s no way to go but up. With reports from Gab Ferreras.