MMA
Nine-time SEA Games champ Baylon breezes through national games judo competition
DUMAGUETE CITY – John Baylon scored the quickest gold medal performance here in the second POC-PSC National Games.
The nine-time SEA Games gold medal winner toppled La Salle’s CJ San Pedro in the finals of their -90 kg match at the Silliman University gym.
“Siguro wala pang 10 seconds, naihagis ko na ‘yung likod niya sa mat,” said the 47-year old Zamboanga City bet. “Sa judo kasi kapag lumapat na ‘yung likod ng kalaban mo tapos na.”
Ateneo’s Anjo Gumila and Cordillera’s Bill Astudillo settled for bronze medals.
Baylon, whose SEA Games reign ended last year after reaching only the quarterfinals of the biennial meet in Jakarta, Indonesia, knew that no one here could match him in the sport.
“Katuwaan lang kaya sumali ako at para ma-inspire ‘yung mga batang judokas natin,” said Baylon, who is planning to apply as head coach of the kata team.
“May apat na coaches na tayo sa sparring. Sa kata wala pa. Yun ang gusto kong tulangan kasi may alam naman din tayo kahit papaano sa kata.”
Baylon, who holds a rank of 6th dan, attended the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, Japan from 1985 to 1999 and runs a judo school in Libertad, Pasay City.
In this competition, Baylon sees a lot of potential but said the lack of solid programs is hindering the progress of judo in the Southeast Asia region.
“Maraming atleta pero wala masyadong program,” he said. “May suporta naman kami nakukuha pero kulang ang mga tournament. Tingin ko dapat at least tatlong national tournament kada taon para tumaas ang level of competition.”
Jigoro de Castro of Muntinlupa won the gold in the +100kg while UP’s Raphael Teeten and Luigi Agustin took the silver and bronze respectively.
National team member and SEA Games gold medalist Nancy Quillotes won the gold in the -48kg. Baguio City’s Helen Aclofan won the silver while UST’s Janet Alhido settled for bronze.
In the -100kg category., UP’s Prince Lledo prevailed over his older brother Patrick for the gold medal. Zamboanga’s Francis Lorenzo and Hohanna El Hellou of Bacolod brought home the bronze.
