WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PLAY?
Two wooden sticks
The longer is usually 3 ft long and the shorter is just about 4
inches in length.
SYATO/TSATO/SYATONG
(PITIW IN BISAYA)
Playing area
Field or Ground
Dig a slanting hole which is normally not
as deep as the length of the shorter stick
Participating players
Usually there are two
opposing sides of equal
number(s).
Who will hit first?
Any member of the opposing teams will try
to put the smaller stick in the hole by
throwing from a predetermined distance. If
both fail, the player with the nearer stick on
the whole will be the hitters first.
NOW LET’S PLAY
The hitter will put the smaller stick on top of the hole
horizontally and he/she will flick the smaller stick using
Stage 1
longer as shown below.
The other team tries to catch the smaller stick. If they
succeed the other player on the hitting side will do stage
one.
NOW LET’S PLAY
If the other team failed to catch the smaller stick they will try to
hit the longer stick placed horizontally on the hole. If they, the
Stage 1 other player on the hitting side will do stage one otherwise, the
game proceeds to stage 2.
The hitting side will strike the smaller stick as far as
possible. The other team tries to catch the smaller stick. If
they succeed the other player on the hitting side turns to
do stage 1. If not, the catching side will throw the smaller
Stage 2
stick to the hole. The hitting side player will prevent the
smaller stick to come near the hole. If they did not
succeed, the hitting side will have points depending on
the number of counts it will make by turning the sticks
from the landing position of the smaller stick to the hole.
Then play continues.
Stage 2
Stage 2 Scoring
The hitting side will now try to increase their
points by doing the third and last stage known
as the “kambaril”. The hitting player puts the
smaller stick in the hole in a slanting position.
Then he will hit the tip of the smaller stick making
it to swirl. Upon doing so the hitter will either hit
once, twice or three times. This hitting pattern
will have an effect on how they will earn points.
Stage 3 The other side tries to catch the flying smaller
stick. IF they succeed they will make the turn of
the other player on the hitting side will have the
chance to do stage 1.
Stage 3
Scoring in stage 3 (“kambaril”)
If the hitting side hit it once they will be able to get a single
point every time the longer stick turns from the landing spot of
the smaller stick going to the hole.
For two hits, the smaller stick will then be used in scoring.
For three hits, double the measurement using the smaller
stick.
If the smaller stick lands near the hole and cannot make any
count as long as the longer stick means it’s the turn of either
his team mate doing stage one or the other teams turn to hit.
Who wins?
Normally, the team who
gains 100 points win.
Punishment
While holding the sticks (the short and the long) one in
each hand, winner will bat the shorter stick as far as he/she
can. Loser then will shout SHAAATONG.... while running
from the base to where the stick landed. If the loser takes a
breath before reaching the destination then back to the
base again.
Record a video of yourself while
playing “syato”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vJUy3pMbKQ
