Delarmino Delarmino: High hopes in SEA Games and World Games.

The best is yet to come for Delarmino

March 28, 2022 Ed Andaya 538 views

THE best is yet to come for muaythai champion Philip “El Kapitan” Delarmino.

He knows good things come not only to those who wait, but also to those who really work for it.

“Lahat talaga ngayon ginagawa namin para mag-tagumpay tayo sa SEA Games at World Games. We train hard and work hard everyday with the help of our friends,” said Delarmino during the 12th “Sports On Air” weekly vodcast.

“So far, everything is OK. We’re doing very well in our bubble training here at Benguet State University kasabay yun mga atleta natin from kickboxing and vovinam. Kaya naman malaki pasasalamat namin ng MAP (Muaythai Association of the Philippines) sa Philippine Sports Commission at BSU sa suporta nila,” added the 31-year-old standout from Philippine Navy.

Delarmino, who is best remembered for winning the gold medal in the IFMA World Muaythai Championships 2021 in Phuket, Thailand last December, said the high-altitude traning in Benguet is expected to help him and his fellow muaythai athletes a lot

“This high-altitude training in Benguet along with athletes from kickboxing and vovinam should help a lot. We need to build endurance,”added Delarmino, who bested Aleksandr Abramovn of Russia, 30-27, in the 57kgs senior elite male category in the world championship

The pride of Dumangas, Iloilo said he expects to get enough training and preparation in time for the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 12-23 and the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on July 7-17.

“With the kind of training we have, malaki ang laban natin sa SEA Games pati sa World Games ” said Delarmino, who was also the first Filipino to be nominated as World Games Athlete of the Year last January.

While he did not win the World Games Athlete of the Year honor, Delarmino was very happy to make it to the Top 10 out of the 24 athleres nominated for the award

“Malaki po ang pasalamat ko sa mga kaibigan natin dahil ito yung first time na may nag-qualify na Filipino para sa award. Isang malaking karangalan ito para sa akin at para sa ating bansa,” said Delarmino, whose two-gold haul in the World Championships in Phuket was one of the considerations for being nominated to the award

“Kaya nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng sumuporta sa akin from the nomination to the voting for the World Games,” added Delarmino, who cited the support of MAP, thru Gen. Lucas Managuelod and secretary-general Pearl Managuelod, and Philippine Navy, thru Capt. Buddy Sambalilo.

Asked about his world championship experience in Phuket, Delarmino admitted the win did not come easy.

“Hindi ko talaga in-expect na makukuha natin ang gold medal dun kasi lahat ng mga nakatapat ko ay dati na akong tinalo. Lahat sila na ka-timbang ko sa weight category talagang magagaling.

Pero sa awa ng Diyos at sa tulong at suporta ng mga coaches at teammates ko nakabawi ako sa kanila,: recounted Delarmino.

“Yun first fight ko dun ay isang magaling na champion from India. Tapos sa second fight is from Sweden. Then sa semifinals yun taga Kazakhstan, na tumalo na dati sa akin nung una kong World Games nung 2017. It was a very close fight pero natalo ako kaya nalaglag. Pero nakabawi nga ako sa kanya sa Phuket. Sa championship nakalaban ko yun Russian na tumalo sa akin sa world championships sa Bangkok nun 2019. Sa Phuket, tinalo ko naman sya kaya nakabawi na din tayo.”

The coming 31st SEA Games in Hanoi should also pose another major challenge.

“Before the World Games in Alabama, SEA Games muna sa Hanoi. Kaya nakatuon din dun yun training namin. Kailangan din lagi best effort dun,” explained Delarmino, who will defend his gold medal in the men’s 57 kg category.

“Kahit anong competition, ganun naman kami lagi sa MAP. Lagi namin sinasabi na huwag magkumpiyansa kahit sino pa ang kalaban,” explained Delarmino.

“Lalo ngayon sa Hanoi, malalakas na din yun mga Vietnamese at talagang pinaghahandaan nila itong darating na SEA Games dahil sila nga ang host. At syempre yun Thailand, mabigat lagi kalaban.”

Thailang captured the overslall championship in muaythai during the 2019 SEA Games held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center last Dec. 3-8.

The Thais bagged four golds and one silver against the Filipinos’ 3-4-2.and the Malaysians’ 1-2-2.

The Vietnamese had 1-1-3 for fourth place. with reports from Gab Ferreras

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