Arcita, Aligaga shine

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning world champions Dembert Arcita and Jesse Aligaga played true to form and copped the gold medals in their respective divisions in the Wushu Sanda World Cup in Wuyishan, China recently.

Arcita and Aligaga trounced separate Vietnamese rivals in the finals of the event exclusive to the medalists of the last year’s biennial World Wushu Championships.

Arcita, 27, needed just two rounds to outclass Hoang Hong Tu in the 52-kg class while Aligaga turned back a tough Doan Yuan Cuong in their 48-kg showdown.

The Vietnamese actually took the first round in close fashion but Aligaga, who won a silver medal and a bronze in his previous World Cup stints, countered to pummel Doan with punch-kick combinations for the win.

Benjie Rivera, the other Filipino bet, settled for silver.

Rivera, a gold medalist in the 2005 World Championship, bowed to China’s Li Kang in the 56kg class.

“My opponent was expecting I will rely on my fists as I did when I kayoed him the first time we fought. But I surprised him with my grappling and kicking,” said Arcita.

Despite yielding the first round, Aligaga said he had his plans all drawn up.

“I lost the first round but I have read his strategy. In the next two rounds, he had a hard time defending my kicks and punches.”