Image capture from video by GMA News and Public Affairs via Youtube channel- Two Pinoy teen wrestlers take home 3 gold and a silver medal from a competition
- US-based coach says Anthony Arcilla Jr. and Royce Tiu are making history
- They are the first Filipinos to have flown from the Philippines to compete in the US
A United States-based coach praised two Filipino teenage wrestlers for making history for being the first Filipino wrestlers to have flown from the Philippines to compete in the US.
“They are making history, trailblazing. Wrestlers from the Philippines have gone to other nations, like Korea, Europe, Bulgaria, Vietnam, but never in the US,” Springstowne Wrestling Club coach Jason Guiducci said, as quoted in an article written by Rie Takumi and DVM of GMA News.
During the 19th Annual Boys and Girls Wrestling Competition in Vallejo, California, teen wrestler Anthony Arcilla Jr. took home two gold medals in the freestyle and folkstyle wrestling categories while Royce Tiu earned a gold and a silver medal in the competition.
Young dreamers, achievers
Asked on what fuels him to compete, Arcilla said he wanted to represent the Philippines and steer his career towards the Olympics.
“Ito po ‘yung gusto kong i-represent kahit saang competition po. Gusto ko pong makarating ng Olympics po [This is what I want to represent in any competition. I want to compete in the Olympics],” Arcilla said.
Meanwhile, Tiu attributed his win to the defensive skills he employed against his heavier opponent.
“Mas mabigat po siya sa ‘kin ng mga 50 to 60 pounds. Defense. Dinepensahan ko lang po [He’s heavier than me by 50 to 60 lbs],” he shared.
Coach Miguel Plana, on the other hand, said the athletes have undergone intense training here in the Philippines; that’s why they won in the competition.
“Made in the Philippines yung training nila, hindi ‘yung doon nagte-training. From the Philippines talaga, nag-training, pumunta sa States and nag-compete. Si Anthony and Royce, almost literally wiped out their division [They were trained in the Philippines and not in the States. They were trained first in the Philippines then they went to the States to compete. Anthony and Royce almost literally wiped out their division],” Plana explained.
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