In a spectacular display of martial arts prowess, the Unit 3 wushu sanda team delivered a flawless performance, capturing every single gold medal at the Davao City Athletic Association (Dcaa) Meet 2025. The historic sweep occurred on Monday, November 17, at the Mintal Comprehensive High School (MCHS), securing the overall title for the unit in this demanding combat sport.
The Champions Behind the Golden Sweep
The victory was powered by a formidable lineup of young athletes from Mintal Comprehensive High School. Namika Faith E. Binondo triumphed in the secondary girls 42 kg B category, while Elyzah E. Matinez dominated the secondary girls 45 kg B class. On the boys' side, Matt Ethan P. Buenacosa and Angelo Cyril N. Astillo secured gold in the secondary boys 42 kg B and 45 kg B divisions, respectively.
The medal rush continued with Raivent Gail B. Sonsona winning the secondary girls 48 kg B event and Shun Senina claiming the top spot in the secondary boys 52 kg A category.
Contributions from Tugbok and Sirawan National High Schools
Tugbok National High School significantly bolstered Unit 3's medal count by adding three more golds to the tally. Florence Wilvert P. Cueme emerged victorious in the secondary boys 48 kg A, Maezzy B. Luania championed the secondary girls 48 kg A, and Frenchester A. Aracena won the secondary boys 56 kg A division.
Sirawan National High School also contributed a crucial gold medal, courtesy of Rica Mae C. Oñate in the secondary girls 52 kg A event, completing the unit's perfect 10-for-10 gold medal run.
The Coaching Force and Broader Athletic Picture
Veteran trainer Arniel Barbero revealed in an interview with SunStar Davao that all the triumphant athletes were developed under the banner of King’s Sword Martial Arts. This highlights the academy's critical role in nurturing local talent.
Adding to this, Wushu Davao official Nell Jone Astudillo noted that a majority of these champions are also Batang Pinoy athletes, further trained by Barbero, who serves as the Region 11 coach for the Palarong Pambansa 2025.
Overall Medal Tally Standings
While Unit 3 celebrated its wushu sanda dominance, the overall race for the Dcaa Meet title remained highly competitive. As of Day 4 at 3:40 p.m., the perennial champion, Unit 1, led the partial and official overall medal tally with an impressive haul of 54 gold, 13 silver, and 45 bronze medals, keeping its title-retention bid alive.
The standings behind Unit 1 were as follows:
- Unit 6 – Davao Association of Catholic Schools (Dacs): 35 gold, 28 silver, 25 bronze
- Unit 8 – Davao Association of Private Schools and Administrators (Daprisa): 21 gold, 15 silver, 15 bronze
- Unit 4: 20 gold, 26 silver, 17 bronze
- Unit 2: 16 gold, 12 silver, 14 bronze
Rounding out the standings were Unit 7, Unit 3, and Unit 5, showcasing the wide-ranging athletic talent across Davao City's school units.
