December 1, 2019 – Arnis make its comeback in the Southeast Asian Games as teams from participating nations face each other for gold in the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Pampanga on Sunday.
Dexter Bolambao from the Philippines defeated Myanmar’s Paing Soc in the bantamweight division to get the first arnis gold medal.
Nino Mark Talledo meanwhile beat Vietnam’s Vu Van Kien in the featherweight division to add tally for the Philippines.
Cambodian Mengly Yong and Filipino Villardo Cunamay battled it out in the men’s lightweight full contact live stick, with the Filipino reigning supreme over the Cambodian.
Vietnamese Phu Thai Viet settled for silver in the welterweight full contact live stick, as he fell to the Philippines’ Mike Banares who claimed gold.
More arnis medals will be distributed during the conclusion of the tournament in December 2 and 3.