Malilay siblings from Cebu are now BJJ world champs

CEBU’s pride, Ellise Xoe Malilay (left) Eliecha Zoey (right). The Malilay siblings won the gold medal in their categories in the recently concluded 14th Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championships. | Contributed Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Malilay sisters of Cebu, Eliecha Zoey and Ellise Xoe, can finally call themselves World Champions.

This after the siblings bagged gold medals in their respective divisions in the 14th Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championships on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Arena, UAE. 

The 17-year-old Eliecha Zoey dominated the youth women’s gi blue-belt 40-kilogram division, while 15-year-old Ellise Xoe ruled the girls gi teen yellow-belt 40kg division. 

Eliecha Zoey Malilay at the podium after her stint in the 14th Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championships. | contributed photo

The Dubai-based Cebuana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) athletes have been making waves in international BJJ scene while representing Atrixion Jiu-Jitsu and MMA Academy of Dubai.

Eliecha won all of her three matches in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the gold medal round en route to the gold. 

In the quarterfinals, she defeated fellow Filipino Andrea Isabelle Pascual of Palm Sports-Team 777, 4-0, in a four-minute match.  

Eliecha, who is ranked No. 2 in Asia and No. 1 in the Philippines in her category, went on to beat Alghala Alhosani of Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club of Abu Dhabi by submission within a minute and 23 seconds in the semifinals. 

She duplicated her submission win in the gold medal round against UAE’s Merah Talal Alsaeedi of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club of UAE. 

Meanwhile, Ellise Xoe defeated Latifa Bamadhaf of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club of UAE in the qualifying round via submission and went on to beat Latifa Ismail Alali of Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy with another submission in the gold medal round.

Ellise Xoe Malilay bags gold in the 14th Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championships. | contributed photo

Fellow Filipinas, Halle Daphne Alvarez and Nikeisha Angelique Pascual earned a bronze medal in their respective categories.

It can be recalled that Eliecha and Ellise earned a gold and a bronze medal, respectively, in the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour Fujairah International Pro-Gi tournament last July. 

They went on harvesting a gold medal each in the Mother of the Nation Jiu-Jitsu Cup, still in Abu Dhabi last September. 

According to their father, Dante Malilay Jr., his daughters have already been offered to join the national team under the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines to represent the country in future international tournaments. 

/bmjo

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