With a heavy heart, the fencing national team parted ways with Korean mentors Kim Seungjun and Park Sang Sun, their contracts allowed to expire without renewal last month.
But national coach Amat Canlas Jr. knows it would only be for a short while.
“Babalik silang dalawa for sure,” Canlas told Manila Bulletin in an interview Friday night.
“Parang bakasyon lang muna sila sa bansa nila ang dating para sa amin, pero sigurado ako babalik sila dahil ito naman yung naging usapan namin kasama na ng fencing federation.”
Kim and Park, gold medalist in the 2006 Asian Games, first arrived here February 2019 as the local fencers were preparing for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which the country hosted.
Their contracts expired at the end of February 2020 but with six fencers eyeing spots to the Tokyo Olympics via the Asian Championships in Korea, the Koreans' tenure was extended by the Philippine Fencing Federation (PFA) for another six months – as approved by the Philippine Sports Commission, which pays for their salary.
However, the coronavirus pandemic forced both the Asian Championship and the Tokyo Olympics to reset next year.
The two Koreans stayed in their quarters at the Philsports Complex (formerly ULTRA) in Pasig City with only two fencers to train since March, the time the government enforced lockdowns in Metro Manila.
The absence of fencers to tainin, according to Canlas, was the reason given them by the PSC for the coa.ches' non-renewal
“Talagang nung sinabi sa akin na hindi na ma-renew, na-down ako, nalungkot. Although eventually, na-realize ko na may point din kasi nga hindi naman sila maka-coach dahil bawal pa ang physical training, and siempre hirap din ang PSC,” said Canlas.
“Kaya ngayon ayos lang na uwi muna sila, makapag-spend muna sila ng time together with their families na matagal-tagal na din nila hindi nakikita, so parang bakasyon lang muna sila.”
Kim and Park are expected to leave for Korea next week.
Canlas said he has already spoken with PFA president Richard Gomez on the plan bring back the two coaches by November through the PSC.
READ: PH fencing chief Richard Gomez seeks extension for Korean coaches
Canlas said Park and Kim would be here in time for the preparation for the Asian Championship, which has been reset April, and the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.
“So by the time na mag-training na yung six fencers for the Asian Championship, hopefully nakabalik na sila dito. Of course tuluy-tuloy na yung preparation natin for the 2021 SEA Games,” said Canlas.
“Saka alam ko na yung dalawa talagang gusto nila dito, sabi ko nga 'pusong Pinoy' na yung dalawa, kasi nasabi nila sa akin na dito na din nila gusto mag-business and tumira. Kasi sa totoo lang, hindi pa man sila members ng Philippine Fencing Team, nagbabakasyon na sila dito two, three times a year.
“Kaya nung nakausap ko sila, pinalakas ko din loob nila na huwag silang mag-alala kukunin namin uli sila. Gusto talaga kasi nila dito, maski may offer sa kanila na mag-coach sa ibang bansa, Pilipinas ang gusto nila.”
To their credit, the two Koreans helped in the strengthening and conditioning of Filipino fencers prior to the SEA Games.
That resulted to Jylyn Nicanor’s gold medal win in the regional meet as she dominated the women’s individual sabre category, while the women’s epee team of Hanniel Abella, Mickyle Bustos, Anna Estimada and Harlene Raguin bagged the gold in the event.
READ: SEAG gold medalist Hanniel Abella shares fencers’ quarantine life in Philsports Complex
Christian Conception pocketed a silver medal in the men’s individual sabre, plus a bronze by Concepcion, Eric Brando II, Donnie Navarro and Eunice Villanueva in the team event. Abella had a silver in the women’s single epee, Noelito Jose Jr. a bronze in men’s singles epee, and a team bronze for Nicanor, Kemberly Camahalan, Allaine Cortey and Queen Dalmacio in the women’s sabre event.
“Although ang naging tulong nila sa buong national team is conditioning and strengthening – napalakas talaga nila yung mga fencers natin – ang talagang credit sa kanila yung sabre and epee teams natin,” said Canlas, who handles the foil for the national team that earned three bronze medals in the biennial meet.
“Kaya kapag bumalik na sila, hindi na masyadong mahirap kasi mayroon ng chemistry… kumbaga kabisado na nila yung mga Filipino fencers – athletes and coaches – and sila alam na din naman natin paano sila magturo at makisama sa aming lahat.”
In the absence of the foreign mentors, Canlas said coaches Almario Vuzcayno, Emerson Segui, Arman Bernal, Ramil Endriano and Veena Nuestro will handle practice sessions via victual training.