NCAA Season 100 pole vault gold medalist Matt Obiena of Colegio de San Juan de Letran (middle) with his father Edward and mother Florence. Photo from Matt Obiena.MANILA — Another pole vault competition was ruled by a star from the Obiena family.

However, this was not the World’s No.4 pole vaulter, the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympian EJ Obiena. Rather, it is his younger cousin -- 22-year-old collegiate ace Matt Obiena.

The graduating Digital Arts student from Colegio de San Juan de Letran recently emerged victorious in the NCAA Season 100 track and field’s pole vault tilt, clinching the gold medal after clearing 4.10 meters.

“It feels amazing,” Matt told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday. “Actually, it is one of the competitions that I was really looking forward to. Despite not performing and not being able to play these past years, the previous seasons, bringing home the gold medal for Letran was really amazing.”

Obiena bested silver medalist John Parulan of Arellano University and bronze finisher Vale Domalaon Jr. of University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. He was able to do so after he cleared all heights, including the 4.10, on his first attempts

But unlike the efficiency that he displayed to earn the win, Matt’s earlier shot at glory for Letran six years ago went for naught.

Only a Grade 11 Senior High student back then when he made his NCAA debut, Obiena already had the chance for a podium finish in the tournament’s junior division.

Unfortunately, his opponent back then cleared his same height in the first attempt, while Matt got it at his second, and this was why he settled for a fourth-place finish due to countback.

“Nandoon na ako eh, kinapos lang ako ng attempt,” he said of his performance in Season 94. “Parehas kami ng tinalon nung nag third place, pero mas nauna lang niyang makuha yung height.”

This heartbreak fueled Matt to soar for more, though outside factors served as major hurdles for him.

“After that, I put in more time and effort. I was ready to bounce back nung next season, but the pandemic happened. Everything was on hold, so I just tried to stay fit.”

Season 96 was limited to non-contact and online events due to COVID restrictions, while Season 97 only had men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and taekwondo.

“Then Season 98, hindi sinama sa lineup of events ng track and field yung pole vault, so that was a big disappointment for me. Na down ako nun. I was preparing to go back with a medal sa pole vault for Letran, but hindi sinama.”

“I tried other events, but hindi ako successful. I just kept on improving myself, and last school year, Season 99, I was much more prepared,” he shared, before detailing another setback that derailed his opportunity in 2024.

“Mas nag ci-click na yung mga bagay bagay para sa akin on a technical aspect, sa skills, pero nung second semester, since konti na lang yung subjects ko, ang in-enroll ko lang is saktong 12 units,” said Obiena.

“Kaso hindi pala kasama sa bilang yung NSTP, na-overlook ko na ‘di kasama sa bilang ng eligibility to compete. Nung nalaman ko yun, patapos na yung second sem.”

“Nag try ako mag focus sa outside competitions, sa National Open, pero hindi ko rin na bawi masyado yung performance ko kasi yung utak ko andoon sa hindi ako nakapag laro even though mas prepared ako.”

“I just watched last season, and at the sidelines, I was really down kasi I knew that I can compete and mag place sa Top 3. Pero, it was an error on my part,” he lamented.

But even with yet another barrier standing in his way, Obiena, now more mature and wiser, instead focused on what can help his campaign in Season 100.

“I just moved forward, and. I kept on training,” said Matt, who competed in the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Weekly Relay in October 2024. He eventually finished in third place, and even set his personal best of 4.15m.

He sustained an injury to his right knee as well as plantar fasciitis on both feet after the PATAFA tourney, but this did not slow Obiena in any way.

“Nag physical therapy ako, then after doing that mas nag improve ako. Nawala naman yung injury ko. Hindi ako nakapag full intensity agad, I had to relearn kung ano yung mga tamang gawin so that I can jump higher. So ahead of Season 100, it was only mid-February until early March na nakapag train ako ng maayos.”

Going into the Centennial Season’s tournament proper, Matt had three goals: “I-sure yung placement sa Top 3, go for my personal best, and try to break the record ng NCAA,” he shared.

“During the game na mismo, since this was my first time going back sa NCAA, I knew that I had to perform well.”

Obiena managed to check one major box on his list, but a left foot injury due to the wear-and-tear nature of the sport prevented him from moving to the other two.
Matt Obiena receiving treatment for his left foot after the NCAA Season 100 pole vault tournament. Photo from Matt Obiena.He attempted 4.20m after clearing 4.10m in hopes of overcoming his personal best of 4.15m. He was not able to clear it on the first try, and he opted to not push through with the second attempt due to the aforementioned injury.

While it also meant that Obiena was not able to break the NCAA record of Eugene Bongalos, the 4.40m which he set in 2024, the best is yet to come for him.

“Mas naging consistent na ako eh,” he pointed out. “Nakuha ko every height on the first attempt.”

Carving his own name, on his own path

Matt cited three members of the Obiena family who played huge roles in his personal success in pole vault.

“In terms of my family, my uncle and dad, then my mom and other relatives, they were the ones that guided me and really pushed me to do my best,” he said, before going into specifics.

NCAA Season 100 pole vault gold medalist Matt Obiena of Colegio de San Juan de Letran (right) with his uncle and coach, father of two-time Olympian EJ Obiena, Emerson Obiena. Photo from Matt Obiena.The first is his father Edward, his first coach, who is a former National athlete and once held the NCAA record with 4.30m. The next is his uncle and EJ’s dad, Emerson, who is a former National athlete as well. Emerson is also the 2nd highest jumper in their family with a record of 4.95m, and he was Matt’s coach throughout his journey ever since.

Matt also gets some lessons from his two-time Olympian cousin, but he understands that they are going through separate paths despite being in the same sport.

“I showed him my jump, and he gave me pointers,” said Matt, before acknowledging that there might be a thinking that their surname puts him under pressure.

“We’re different people,” he said. “We have different sets of talents and circumstances. For me, I would just try to improve on what I have, and not be pressured because of the last name.”

“He’s an inspiration, alongside my dad and my uncle. I don’t know if I’ll walk the same path, nothing is for sure naman, pero I’ll make sure na I get motivated with what he did, and that I will do my best, go for great heights.”

For Obiena, who will be graduating from college in a couple of months, the short-term focus is on rehabbing his left foot as well as preparing for the National Open or the Philippine Athletics Championship in May.

“I’ll try to break my personal best doon,” he said. “After that, I’m still not sure, actually.”

“Alam ko sa sarili ko na I still have a lot to improve on. Maybe I’ll go for masteral and compete pa ng sabay, or maybe focus sa career na. Pero sa ngayon, short term muna, sa National Open muna,” added Matt, who is both finishing his internship while also having part-time work.

Leaving a Legacy in Letran

“At least, for my final year sa Letran, I managed to leave a legacy and bring home the bacon,” said Matt, who is also an officer both in the Letran Student Council (LSC) and the school’s Digital Arts student organization.

He then went on to express his gratitude for the mentors who believed in him ever since, saying that it was his coaches Gerry Atabay, Benjamin Humangit, Raffy Lanza, and Gerwin Garay who helped plant the seeds for his recent glory.

“Super hina ko pa noon, but they saw the potential, and they gave me the chance to compete and represent. I’m really grateful for that,” expressed Obiena

“Sa lahat ng mga nakasama ko throughout the years, they saw me during my lowest, but they still supported me even though I wasn’t doing well with myself. Still, they saw the good side of it.”

“I was just really making sure that everyone that took a chance on me would be proud of what I can do, and what I can still do in the future,” he added.

But just before he moves on from Muralla and soar to greater heights, he is hoping for Letran to pave the way for the next batch of Knights so they can also excel in their respective sports.

“Hopefully, they will invest in other sports,” emphasized Matt. “Not just in track and field, but for the likes of taekwondo, tennis, chess, swimming, and other sports na meron sa NCAA.”

“Hopefully, they would invest so we can produce athletes who would, hopefully, represent not just Letran, but also in National and International competitions,” he ended.