The 5th NCR Muay Thai Tournament was held on August 30, 2008 at the Mandaluyong Gym. It is the biggest NCR Tournament so far, with 34 matches. The number of participants exceeded 80, but some didn’t have any opponent in their respective weight division and the number of bouts was thus reduced. It is also the tournament with the most number of MAP Chapters participating. The following MAP Chapters fielded fighters in this tournament: Pasig-Ultra, Pasig-Red Corner, Makati, Quezon City, Ateneo, Antipolo, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Calamba-Laguna and Los Banos-Laguna. Andy Galvez, the Vice President and Technical Director of MAP remarked that this event is much bigger than the national muay thai finals.
Trophies were given to the winners of the individual matches and a big Over-All Trophy was also awarded. MAP-Ateneo led by Kru Andre Puertollano bagged the Over-All Championship trophy with 4 wins against 1 loss. MAP-Pasig Ultra, led by yours truly, is the second runner up with 6 wins against 3 losses.
The 5th NCR Tournament was supported by Red Corner Boxing and Fitness Club by providing the trophy, food, equipment and other give aways for the NCR Chapter.
I had the honor (or should I say the misfortune 
) of being appointed as the organizer of the tournament. The August tournament was assigned to another chapter head but at the last minute, uncertainties in the commitment of the said kru, led the President of MAP, Robert Valdez to designate the organizing of the said event to me.
Taking charge of holding a muay thai event for me is a gargantuan task. First, unlike other MAP Chapter Heads, I am not really a full time Chapter Head nor Muay Thai Kru (in fact I am reluctant to hold this position because I am not worthy of the title) and I have a day job that takes up most of my time. Second, since I am not a full time chapter head, I don’t have any manpower (students) at my disposal whom I can assign tasks to. Third, the responsibility was assigned to me barely one and a half month before the tournament date. Fourth, I am scheduled to train in Thailand for 2 weeks on the last week of July until the first week of August thereby reducing my time to work on the this event.
Thanks to the support and encouragement of MAP NCR President and MAP-QC Head Kru Zhie Vallega, MAP-Makati Head Kru Jun Dellosa, and MAP-Vice President Andy Galvez. Special thanks to Rea Villa and to the owners and staff of Red Corner Boxing and Fitness Club, without their support, it would be impossible to hold this tournament.
I also like to thank Kru Andre Puertollano for his kind words after the tournament. He told me that given the time frame and my limited resources, he praised me for still being able to pull off this tournament with such a big number of participants.
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I think I have over-estimated my capacity to multi-task. Doing three roles in one day; tournament organizer, chapter head and a competitor took its toll not only in my performance during my own match but it also prevented me from taking a lot of pictures.
You can see the fatigue in the face of Kru Billy and Kru Asiong. They just weighed-in more than 80 participants for the competition.
The parade of chapters. In previous tournaments, they would line up the participants for the parade. Now, with the number of contestants, only the representative of the chapters paraded and went up the ring. Here’s Robby Reyes holding the banner of MAP- Pasig Ultra Chapter
The trophies for the individual matches and the over-all championship trophy that are up for grabs in the tournament, courtesy of Red Corner Boxing and Fitness Club
The tournament venue and the battle arena
Giovanni Cruz of MAP-Makati facing off his opponent. Giovanni won his match.
Kru Eugene Toquero raising the hands of Marlon of MAP-QC. When I saw Marlon wearing the Philippine Flag designed muay thai short during the 4th NCR tournament last May, I vowed never to wear my own muay thai short with the same design in any tournament again. To ensure that I will have a different muay thai short, I ordered a custom made short from Kaewsamrit Gym when I was in Thailand (that is my only vice in muay thai, I want to wear a short that nobody else is wearing. Its my only personal idiosyncrasy).
Joel Bohol of Red Corner Ortigas going for his first muay thai match. He’s one of my sparring partners in preparation for my fight. Joel won handily over his opponent.
Joel doing a bodybuilding pose. I often joke that its a good thing that this guy is on my team, because I am sure that I will not have the misfortune of being matched against him (Joel fights in the 71 to 75 kgs weight division, the same weight division I compete in). His muscular body and shaven head earned him the monicker, Mr. Clean. He’s also called The Hulk.
Ouch! This will definitely hurt after the match. Robby Reyes of Pasig Ultra Team is the “proud” owner of these legs (after the tournament, fighters would often show and sometimes brag battle scars like these). Robby received several low kicks but still managed to edge out an awesome victory over an older opponent. (Robby is just 17 while his opponent in his mid 20’s)
Kru Robert Valdez with Mr. Robert Reyes Sr. giving trophies to the winners of their bouts. Mr. Reyes is from the well known cooking clan that brought us Aristocrat’s, Mama Sita’s and Reyes Barbecue. His son, Robby is the fighter wearing black sleeveless shirt and red and orange muay thai shorts.
Me and Mr. Robert Reyes Sr. handing out trophies to the winners. Mr. Reyes is an uncle of my friend and fellow muay thai practitioner, Toby Reyes.
The Chapter Heads of the different NCR, Laguna and Antipolo Chapters that participated in the tournament. Holding the Overall Championship Trophy is Kru Andre Puertollano, Head of the Ateneo Chapter.
