SEAG kickboxing coach suffers stroke

A coach who helped Cordillera fighters rake in medals in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Manila last year is at the intensive care unit and fighting for his life at the Benguet General Hospital after suffering a stroke on Monday.

Manuel Sanidad, 56, was conducting lessons at Highland Boxing Gym when he collapsed.

Trainer Brico Santig said he and other kickboxers took “Master Manny” to the hospital.

Sanidad teamed up with Mark Sangiao, who is the Cordillera regional coordinator of the Samahan ng mga Kickboxers ng Pilipinas and Team Lakay founder, in training national kickboxers for the biennial competition last year.

Team Lakay’s Gina Iniong, Jerry Olsim and Jean Claude Saclag hauled three golds, two silvers and a bronze.

The Philippine team bagged two more silver medals courtesy of Jerome Balangui and Renz Dacquel and a bronze from Karol Maguide.

All are Cordillerans based in Baguio and Benguet. Santig said Sanidad arrived just more than a month ago after being stuck nearly five months in Manila due to quarantine restrictions.

“Some of our athletes are taking turns looking after him,” he said.

Doctors said Sanidad has progressive blood clotting in the brain.