Making her debut in a major international tournament, the 17-year-old Novino stood toe-to-toe with Kazakhstan’s Karakat Rakhybay, a two-time World Youth Sambo Championships silver medalist, and held her rival to a 1-1 deadlock early in the match.

Rakhybay, who won silver medals in the 2024 and 2025 World Youth Championships in Larnaca, Cyprus and Bogor, Indonesia, respectively, eventually relied on her experience, pinning Novino with just 24 seconds remaining in the four-minute final to secure the victory.

Despite the loss, Novino’s silver medal stands as the best finish by a Filipino athlete so far in the tournament organized by the Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc.

The host nation earlier collected three bronze medals on opening day and added three more yesterday through Johan Matthew San Miguel, Daniel Justin Virtudazo and Julian Henry Flores in the junior men's combat sambo events in the -58kg, -88kg and -98kg divisions, respectively.

"Hindi lang po ito malaking achievement para sa akin kundi malaking learning experience din," said Novino, who became emotional after the match and only later learned she had faced one of the world's top youth sambo athletes.

"At least nakakuha rin ako ng isang point laban sa isang napakalakas na kalaban. First step pa lang ito at hindi ako susuko," added the UE judo varsity standout.

National team coach Jerry Legaspi praised Novino's effort despite her limited experience in the sport.

"This is her first major international sambo tournament, but Sophia performed very well. Maganda ang ipinakita niya against a very strong opponent. She put on a good show and I am proud of her," said Legaspi.

"She is relatively new to sambo and is still adjusting from a judo background, but she will learn from this experience and definitely come back stronger next time."

The Philippines will pin its hopes on defending women's sport sambo +80kg champion Sydney Sy, who is set to compete today in the four-day tournament backed by Victory Liner.

Live coverage of the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships is available via streaming on sambo.live and through the official Pilipinas Sambo Federation and PSC Facebook pages.

Anchored by the formal endorsement of Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham ``Bambol’’ Tolentino and the PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, the event positions Manila as a premier destination for international combat sports.

“Sambo is a sport that needs exposure in the Philippines. Although it’s not an Olympic sport, it is included in the World Games and Asian Games, and we hope grassroots development will allow it to flourish,’’ said Gregorio, emphasizing the sport’s growth potential.

Sanctioned by the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) and the Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania (SUAO), the championships will gather elite athletes from 29 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, to battle for 72 gold medals across youth, junior, and adult divisions.

The championships will be staged under the auspices of the National Sport Tourism–Inter Agency Committee (NST‑IAC), chaired“In our 10 years as an association, we have produced a world No. 1 and Asian champion in by PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, whose leadership reinforces the event’s stature in the country’s international sports calendar.

The championships are expected to draw over 500 delegates, boosting Manila’s profile as a sports tourism hub and showcasing the city’s historic landmarks and vibrant culture.

 It will showcase the two core disciplines of SAMBO—Sport SAMBO, which emphasizes throws, submissions, and ground control, and Combat SAMBO, a high‑intensity hybrid that integrates strikes, kicks, and grappling techniques.

Athletes from powerhouse nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and South Korea, along with Oceania’s finest competitors, are set to converge in Manila to vie for continental supremacy.

“We are proud to host this tournament. If not for Pilipinas Sambo and the PSC, sambo will not have this big event, so we thank them for being aggressive in organizing and hosting international events like this one,” said Tolentino.

Also present during the launch at the Century Park Hotel in Manila were POC secretary general Atty. Wharton Chan and PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston.

Bannered by Southeast Asian Games medalists Daryl John Mercado and Joemari-Heart Rafael, the Filipino judokas stood out in a highly competitive field that featured around 720 participants from 10 countries, including host Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Two-time SEA Games medalist Mercado showcased his technical prowess in the men’s under-60kg division, forcing Indonesia’s Ahmad Andriyanto to submit via armbar en route to the gold medal. Despite his victory, Mercado emphasized the need for further improvement.

“Maganda po, pero sa under-60kgs kulang pa. Kailangan pa ng strength at power para makasabay sa ibang bansa, at mas maraming exposure pa para sa amin sa national team,” said the Muntinlupa City native, who also won bronze in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in the under-55kg category.

Rafael, a former collegiate Rookie of the Year and MVP, also struck gold in the women’s under-57kg division after defeating Malaysia’s Xue Zhi Voon. Fellow SEA Games campaigner Khrizzie Pabulayan added to the gold medal haul by ruling the women’s half-middleweight division.

Sisters Jeanalane and Leah Jhane Lopez likewise made their mark, first clinching gold in the Ju-No-Kata event—a discipline introduced in 2018 as part of grassroots development and in preparation for Malaysia’s hosting of the 2027 SEA Games. The duo went on to secure individual titles in their respective weight classes, with Jeanalane topping the women’s under-44kg division and Leah Jhane dominating the under-48kg category after defeating Singaporean opponents.

The Philippines also collected additional podium finishes, with Randy Ferrera earning silver in the men’s lightweight division and Jed Mark Pumay taking bronze in the men’s under-66kg category.

National team coach and former SEA Games champion Gilbert Ramirez lauded the athletes’ performance, noting their dominance in several matches.

“Napakaganda ng performance ng mga national athletes natin. Halos lahat ng laro nila seconds lang lalo na women’s natin. Ito po yung unang labas natin na international level at maganda po ang result natin,” said national team coach and former SEA Games champion Gilbert Ramirez.

He added that the team, together with head coaches Franco Teves and Helen Dawa, will immediately shift focus to upcoming international competitions, including the Vietnam International Open scheduled from May 19 to 24, and a tournament in Indonesia in June.

Ramirez also expressed gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission, particularly Commissioner Walter Torres, as well as the Philippine Judo Federation for their continued support.

For Engene Dagohoy, National mentor and Herrera’s Sensei at the Fight Alliance Sports Team (FAST) karate club, the tournament will provide Filipino karatekas a valuable opportunity to showcase their talent and prove they can compete with the best young fighters on the global stage.

“The Karate One Youth League is very important because this is where athletes can earn ranking points for the world rankings,” said Dagohoy during the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) “Usapang Sports” forum on Thursday at the PSC Conference Room inside the fabled Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

According to Dagohoy, collecting ranking points is crucial, as they serve as one of the pathways toward Olympic qualification in the future.

Among the country’s brightest prospects is the 12-year-old Herrera, a grade school student at Abba's Orchard School, who has been undergoing rigorous training in preparation for the world-class event.

Herrera said his dream of representing the Philippines has motivated him well in international competitions and proved that young Filipino karatekas can compete with the best in the world. The Karate One Youth League blasts off on May 14-17 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

“I’m training very hard every day because I want to improve my skills and make my family and coaches proud,” said Herrera in the forum backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Behrouz Persian Cuisine, and Pocari Sweat. “I know the competition will be tough, but I’m excited to compete against strong athletes from other countries.”

”I watch videos of top karate players, and I try to learn from them,” Herrera said. “Someday, I want to compete regularly in international tournaments and represent the Philippines in bigger competitions,” stressed the young karateka.

Dagohoy added that Herrera has been focusing on sharpening his kata routines, improving discipline and consistency in training, and building confidence ahead of the tournament.

"Despite his young age, he dedicates himself to training. He listens carefully to instructions and always wants to improve,” Dagohoy said. “That kind of attitude is important if you want to succeed internationally.”

Herrera also shared that balancing school and sports has not been easy, but he remains determined to pursue his passion for karate.

“Sometimes training is tiring, especially after school, but I always remind myself of my goals,” Herrera said. “I want to win more medals for the Philippines and someday reach the Olympics.”

Herrera earned his spot in the Karate One Youth League after capturing the gold medal in the kata intermediate division during last month’s National Open in Tagaytay City.

The young karateka has steadily built an impressive resume at an early age. Last year, he bagged a bronze medal in the 2nd Asian Youth Open Karate Championships in China and also ruled the same event in the Batang Pinoy held in General Santos City.

His father, actor RR Herrera, said balancing academics and sports has become part of Rapha’s daily routine as the family continues to support his athletic dreams.

“Our support is vital for our child’s success. Of course, it can be expensive, but it is worth it once you see them happy and successful in the sport they love,” said Herrera. “To all parents, always be there for your children.”

Dagohoy revealed that Herrera’s preparation will not stop after the Karate One Youth League, as they are already mapping out a busy international campaign for the young athlete.

Herrera plans to participate in the Thailand Open in August, the Southeast Asia Championships, and the fourth leg of the Karate One Youth League in Italy in December after the tournament.

Despite the tough road ahead, Dagohoy remains optimistic about the chances of Herrera and other Filipino athletes competing in the global event.

He also expressed gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission, under Chairman Pato Gregorio, and the Philippine Karate Federation, headed by President Richard Lim, for helping organize the tournament locally, giving Filipino athletes a rare chance to compete against world-class opponents without the burden of huge expenses abroad.