Philippine SAMBO Championships Brings the Country's Top Athletes Together in Davao City

The Philippine National SAMBO Championships took place on March 17 in Davao City as part of the Araw ng Dabaw festival – one of the highlights of the national sports calendar. The tournament was held at the Sta. Ana School Gymnasium and drew around 200 athletes from across the archipelago.

Delegations arrived from Quezon City, Manila, Bukidnon, Baguio City, Cavite and the Philippine Air Force. According to the organizers, the breadth of representation reflects SAMBO's steady and continued growth throughout the country.

The event was honored by the presence of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, who made the trip from Manila for the occasion.

“Sports is good news. This is a historical moment for Davao City, and we are here to ensure that the talent we see today has a clear path to the international stage,” Chairman Gregorio said at the opening ceremony.

Among those present were Sydney and Chino Sy-Tancontian – celebrated local athletes who have since become prominent figures in the sport. They took part not only as organizers but as role models for Davao's next generation of sambists.

Two days before competition began, on March 15, a SAMBO Technical Seminar was held to bring local refereeing and coaching practices in line with international standards.

The seminar was led by FIAS international referees Stella Maria Sjahlim, Carmen Tang Wei Boon and Martin Tandionugroho. Participants took a thorough look at the current rules of Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO.

On the competition mats, the Sambo National Training Pool (SNTP) delivered a dominant performance, capturing 12 gold medals.

The closing ceremony featured remarks from Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. (PSFI) President Paolo Tancontian, who expressed his appreciation to the city government, the PSC, and all athletes and technical officials involved.

“The Philippine SAMBO Championships was an important test ahead of the upcoming Asia and Oceania SAMBO Championships, which we will be hosting in Manila. At that tournament, Philippine athletes intend to make a strong statement at the continental level,” said Paolo Tancontian.