Inter-SSKI Martial Arts Tourney a Big Success

Source: Arab News
September 26, 2006
Ben Micu, Jr. Sensei / Jun Loyola Sensei

In keeping up with its tradition of being one of several accredited community organizations in the Kingdom actively helping and/or giving financial assistance to distressed and less fortunate segments of Philippine society (the latest of which is "Bantay Bata 163 Foundation", the Sphinx Shoto-kan Karate-do International (SSKI), (formerly known as Association of Sontokan Karatedo International or ASKI), successfully conducted its first inter-SSKI Karate Tournament at Sunbulah Compound in Jeddah last September 08, 2006.

This annual inter-chapter competition was staged for the exclusive participation of members and instructors of the various SSKI Chapters under the able leadership of Romeo Rivero Sensei and Jun Loyola Sensei, SSKI-ME President and Exec. VP, respectively, with prior approval from its SSKI-ME founding President, Master Eddie V. Rama and Master Jimmy Galez, founding President of World Sphinx Karate-do, Philippine Chapter. SSKI chapters who participated were Xenel Team of Sensei Jun Loyola and Sensei Ben Micu, Alaoun Team of Sensei Sonny Alvarez and Sensei Jupiter Catacata, Sunbulah Team of Sensei Romy Rivero, Bahara AIC Team of Sensei Vani Gasmenia, Naval Base Team of Sensei Sonny Suno and Sensei Efren Animas, Black Master Sphinx Team of Sensei Rod Estepa and Sonny Dalloran and Sphinx Power Punch of Sensei Bhoy Cielo. The event was likewise organized in cooperation with the Guardians Brotherhood International -(WRKSAC) headed by its GBI Chapter President, MG Roger Martin.

The tournament started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem led by Leanne Marie Loyola, a six year old karate practitioner, followed by a welcome address from SSKI president, Romeo Rivero Sensei, GBI MG Roger Martin likewise delivered a speech followed by FIMAA president and PUMA Head Instructor, Cesar Bencito Renshi, who spoke on the close relationships SSKI have with other FIMAA affiliate clubs and further citing the various humanitarian projects that SSKI has had in the past. Labor Attache David Des T. Dicang, Asst. Labor Representative from the Phil. Overseas Office (POLO), was also present as guest speaker and conveyed an inspirational talk, giving some timely advices to the most Filipino audience and at the same time thanked and praised members and officers of SSKI-ME for choosing his office (POLO), the primary benificiary of the said event.

Proceeds of the tourney which were principaly sourced from SSKI participants' entry fees and cash donations from various donors will be for the benefit of stranded OFWs being temporarily sheltered at the POLO / Philippine Consulate offices. Major sponsor is Sunbulah Food & Fine Pastries Manufacturing for providing the venue and foods/pastries/gift that were distributed to audience during the tournament. Other sponsors/cash donors include "The Filipino Channel" (TFC) for covering the event; Barrio Fiesta Restaurant thru its Manager, Mr. Raffy Rafanan; Skyfreight Forwarders and Arab News, among others.

On the tournament proper, bonafide SSKI Karatekas vied for plaques and trophies at stake in the Kata competition both in the Junior and Senior Divisions, and likwise in the Kumite events that showcased the fighting abilities of participants in the Green, Brown and Black belt categories, Senior Division. The highlight of the event was a Team of 3 Competition in the Black belt category comprising of various Chapter instructors who gamely displayed their awesome fighting skills in pursuit of the special Team Championship Trophy, courtesy of Master Ed Rama. This special event was evetually captured by the Xenel Team of Senseis Jun Loyola, Ben Micu,Jr. and Samuel Nacario, Jr. who lorded over the fighting Bahara/Alaoun Team of Senseis Vani Gasmeni, Jupiter Catacata and Angel Palaypayon and the highly-fancied Alaoun/Sunbulah/Power Punch Team of senseis Sonny Alvarez, Steve Rivero and Bhoy Cielo, amid a fiesta-like atmospher from the boisterous crowd.

As in the past, Kata competition in all belt levels were grade by Senseis Romeo Rivero, Jun Loyola, Sonny Alvarez, Jupiter Catacata, Steve Rivero and Cleto Lapitan, while guest referees from FIMAA affiliated clubs headed by Renshis Cesar Bencito of PUMA, Mac Tending of PSKAI, Nestor "Bebot" Cala of FLYING FIST and Nonoy Gacola of WILDCAT graded the participants in Black belt Kata event. on the other hand, the Kumite events in the colored belts from Green to Brown had Senseis Ben Micu, Jr., Sonny Alvarez, Bhoy Cielo, Cleto Lapitan, Jupiter Catacata, Steve Rivero, Sonny Dalloran, Alex Buce, angel Palaypayon and Samuel Nacario, Jr. alternating as judge/referee/arbitrator. The Black belt Kumite competition was likewise officiated by the same guest instructors who rated the participants in the Black belt Kata competition. Added attractions that won admirations from the crowd were the rendition of Taikyoku Shodan kata by Leanne Marie Loyola and the sparring between Leanne Marie Loyola and Maryam Montillano and Danielle Granada versus Maryam Montillano.

Tournament Results:

Kata competition: Junior Division; Green Belt Category/Champion - Bryan Sagmit (Xenel), 2nd place - Danilo Sagmit Jr. (Xenel), 3rd place - Leanne Marie Loyola (Xenel), Senior Division: Green Belt Category / Champion - John Ocromas (Alaoun), 2nd Place - Ronaldo Lapay (Alaoun), 3rd Place - Eldy Bagundol (Power Punch), Brown Belt Category / Champion - Joselito Alipante (Alaoun), 2nd Place - Romel Gutlay (Alaoun), 3rd Place - Jose Hesita (Alaoun), Black Belt Category / Champion Samuel Nacario Jr. (Xenel), 2nd Place - Jupiter Catacata (Alaoun), 3rd Place - Bhoy Cielo (Power Punch).

Kumite competition: Senior Division; Green Belt Middleweight / Champion - Al Debalocos (Xenel), 2nd Place - Eldy Bagundol (Power Punch), 3rd Place - Robert Genova (Alaoun), Green Belt Heavyweight / Champion - Rajha Aati (Alaoun), 2nd Place - Reynante Gutlay (Alaoun), 3rd Place - Rodriguez Buce Jr. (Aloun), Brown Belt Open Weight / Champion - Cris Ortiz (Aloun), 2nd Place - Edwin Cula (Alaoun), 3rd Place - Jose Hesita (Alaoun), Black Belt Open Weight / Champion - Jun Loyola (Xenel), 2nd Place - Samuel Nacario Jr. (Xenel), 3rd Place - Bhoy Cielo (Power Punch), Team Kumite - Black Belt Open Weight / Champion - Xenel Team (Jun Loyola, Ben Micu Jr., Samuel Nacario Jr.), 2nd Place - Bahara/Alaoun Team - (Vani Gasmenia, Jupiter Catacata, Angel Palaypayon), 3rd Place - Alaoun/Sunbulah/Power Punch Team -(Sonny Alvarez, Steve Rivero, Bhoy Cielo).