*By BRIAN YALUNG*
After winning their first gold, the second overall of the Philippines at the 32^nd Southeast Asian Games, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, athletes from the pencak silat team are looking to add more medals to their campaign. *Angel Gwen Derla bagged the country's second gold medal at the Cambodia SEA Games on Thursday night, May 4.*


Angel Gwen Derla delivered the country’s second gold medal after ruling the women’s bamboo shield form of Kun Bokator, a sport that originated in Cambodia. She scored 8.5 points to beat hometown bet Puth Chanchhorvy, who managed 8.47 points for the silver. Deslya Anggriani of Indonesia bagged the bronze with 8.42 points. In an exclusive interview, Derla admitted that while her feat was overwhelming, it will also serve as motivation for her to do her best in other events that she is set to compete in, particularly on May 8. “Para sa akin po, gagawin ko lang best ko, kung ano po binigay na turo sa akin ng mga coaches and yung support po nga mga Pilipino, teammates ko po at ibang mga atleta. Mas ginagawa ko pa po siyang motivation para makamit ko po yung best performance po natin,” the 19-year-old stated. Derla also added that as far as she is concerned, delivering a medal to the Philippines is all that matters – especially during the awarding ceremonies when the Philippine national anthem is played. “Basta po makapagbigay po ako ng medalya para sa Pilipinas. Masaya po talaga ako. Kasi nandito po ako para maglaro at irepresenta ang Pilipinas. Nandito din po ako para magbigay ng karangalan” Derla said. “Pero ang pinaka overwhelming po talaga para sa aming mga Pilipino dito ay marinig yung [Philippine] National Anthem during the awarding ceremonies,” she added. For her part, pencak silat seni artistic coach Irendin Lepatan, could only marvel at how they were able to adapt to a sport that was relatively new to the Philippines. “Very much grateful kasi we are given this opportunity to adopt this new sport kahit di namin masyado alam itong sport because bago lang to sa Philippines. We are very grateful kasi napunta sa team Pencak Silat itong Kun Bokator. And itong sport na ito, na-adopt kaagad namin,” Lepatan said. “So kahit wala kaming history, knowledge about this sport, we are able to adapt and nakuha namin kaagad with the efforts and teamwork of the team, maganda naging outcome ng samahan namin at effort ng mga bata,” she added. More opportunities are over the horizon with the Pencak Silat team set to take the stage again in other events. But with the gold medal win, Lepatan said that the breakthrough has boosted the confidence of the team in their drive to win more medals for the Philippines. “Out of four, dalawa lang ang nag-medal. Pero the two athletes, hindi man nag medal, I know as coach and all Filipinos there na nanuod, mababa man sila, hindi sila nag medal but when there on the stage, all-out po sila, magaling sila. We are so proud of them,” Lepatan said. “Ngayong May 8, alam po namin magkaka-medal po kami ulit. Kasi po yung ibang atleta namin… magagaling talaga. Actually may mga fighters pa kami na magagaling. Abangan na lang po ng mga Pilipino, lalo na sa team Pencak Silat,” she ended.