The long-awaited, high-stakes showdown between Gabo (Coco Martin) and Victor (JM de Guzman) finally happened in the July 10 episode of “Coco Martin's Sigabo”! However, just when he already had him in his grip, Gabo still lost Victor to the team of NCIA agents spearheaded by Sam (Julia Montes).
As we look forward to seeing what will happen next to Gabo as he failed in the first mission that “Papang” (Joonee Gamboa), the leader of the covert vigilante group Anino who recruited him to be their newest assassin, had given him, let’s first revisit the events that led to his scorching, high-octane face-off with Victor, a.k.a. “Tigre," in this feature!
While he was initially hesitant to join Anino, Gabo was compelled to accept the offer due to his dire need of money for the mounting medical expenses of his father, Rudy (Joey Marquez), who has been in comatose after being shot during the demolition attempt in Ginintuang Lupa. Together with his friends who expressed their desire to join them in his mission, Gabo went to Binondo as instructed to watch out for the arrival of Victor and his group for his anticipated transaction with his client Mr. Chan (Mike Chan), a jewelry shop owner.
Unbeknownst to them, another group was also on the same mission to capture Victor and Mr. Chan—the NCIA team led by Sam, with whom Gabo had previously had a brief altercation following the bus robbery incident.
WATCH | Sigabo: Gabo at Sam, determinadong mahanap si Tigre | Episode 12
Both groups pulled out all the stops to track their targets. As part of their respective operations, Sam and Gabo's friend Tekla (Sue Ramirez) posed as customers at Mr. Chan's jewelry store to confirm his presence. There, they also discovered that an important transaction was set to take place later that evening.
WATCH | Sigabo: Sam, pinatigil ang panggugulo ni Tekla | Episode 13
Despite not having invitations to the venue where Victor and Mr. Chan's transaction was taking place, both groups managed to gain entry through their own ingenious methods. While the NCIA agents relied on advanced technology and the technical expertise of one of their teammates, Gabo and his friends depended on their street smarts, skills, and resourcefulness to slip past security—and both groups succeeded.
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Their shared mission was nearly jeopardized by the fracas between Gabo and NCIA agent Seb (JC de Vera) because of Sam. Nevertheless, they ultimately succeeded in capturing Victor, thanks in large part to Gabo's unwavering determination, unparalleled courage, and relentless efforts.
Although Victor and Mr. Chan initially managed to evade the NCIA agents during the tense car chase and exchange of gunfire, they failed to shake off Gabo, who pursued them relentlessly until they reached the rooftop of a multi-level parking building.
Even though he was clearly outnumbered and alone, Gabo still confronted Victor's group with remarkable courage and confidence. Armed only with a pair of expandable batons at first, he was able to take down Victor's men one by one before switching to a baseball bat he had seized from one of the goons, which he also used for his final showdown with Victor. Sam eventually arrived and single-handedly took on Victor's remaining henchmen.
Determined not to be arrested, Victor attempted one last desperate escape by leaping off the rooftop. However, Gabo quickly improvised by lassoing him with a firehose, preventing him from getting away. Just as Gabo thought he had finally captured their common target, the other end of the hose was pulled toward the rooftop ledge, where Sam and Seb were waiting to haul Victor up and place him under arrest. Filled with resentment after losing his chance to accomplish his first mission and claiming his reward, Gabo quickly left.
WATCH | Sigabo: Ang walang urungang labanan nina Gabo at Alyas Tigre | Episode 15
CCM Film Productions released an exclusive behind-the-scenes feature across its official social media pages, offering fans a closer look at the preparations and off-camera moments behind the riveting, action-packed sequences filmed at the bar, where the groups of Gabo, Victor, and Sam converged in a thrilling three-way showdown. The feature also introduces some of the actors who participated in those adrenaline-fueled scenes.
When asked how he felt about being part of “Sigabo” through his character Victor, whom he described as cunning, intelligent, and passionate in his own way, JM conveyed that he’s absolutely grateful and thrilled.
“Grateful ang feeling. Sobrang blessed na mapabahagi side by side with Direk Coco Martin. Alam ko aksyon ‘to kasi ang bumungad sa akin si Direk Richard Somes. Alam natin na kapag si Direk Richard Somes, madugo ‘yan at paguran. So, I’m expecting na maaksyon ‘tong araw na ito,” he related by the time of the interview.
He added, “Noong una, bago ko po gawin ‘yong tutugisin na ako, sobrang kabado ‘yong feeling. Pero ngayon na nagawa na namin, na halos matatapos na, napalitan ng excitement. Gusto ko siyang mapanood dahil alam kong maganda talaga ‘yong paggawa ng production ng scenes at kaabang-abang talaga ‘yong mga eksena.”
Aside from Coco, JM, Julia, and the actors comprising the barkada of Gabo and the team of Sam, several other cast members also participated in the action-packed sequences. Among them was veteran actor Richard Quan, who plays Arturo Lucero, one of Gabo's most formidable adversaries. Although he has performed numerous action scenes throughout his decades-long career, Richard admitted that he still felt some pressure because of the expectations surrounding the project. Even so, he looked forward to an exciting and enjoyable shoot.
Also joining Victor's camp were Janice Hung as Magie Lee, Ian Ignacio as Lao, Joseph Cabral as Stallone, Robby Dizon as Norris, and Ron Martin as Lucas Zafra. Like the rest of the cast, they shared a mix of excitement, gratitude, and nervousness about being part of “Sigabo.”
“Syempre po masaya kasi panibagong project na naman ‘to. Sobrang excited at kinakabahan din syempre. Hindi naman maiiwasan ‘yon kasi syempre panibagong character na naman ang gagampanan,” Ron enthused.
The scenes involving their characters may have been intense and scorching, but Coco and JM apparently shared a relaxed camaraderie. They were even spotted casually chatting with one another, likely discussing their scenes between takes.
Don't miss the thrilling action, kilig romance, amusing moments, and gripping drama in the next episodes of "Coco Martin's Sigabo." Catch it weeknights at 8:00 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), or stream anytime on iWant!
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