Host Philippines padded its medal count on the second day of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) on Monday as it continues to pull away from its rivals in the biennial athletic meet.
Pencak Silat’s Edmar Tacuel displays winning form in the men’s seni tunggal
Leading the charge was Hidilyn Diaz, who regaled her Filipino fans by bagging her first SEAG gold.
A silver medalist in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Diaz lifted a total of 211 kilograms (kg) before her home crowd who jammed the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Diaz cleared 91 kg in snatch and tallied 120 kg in the clean and jerk round.
Olympian Hidilyn Diaz (left) lifts 120 kilograms in the clean and jerk round en route to claiming her first Southeast Asian Games gold medal.
“This is my first ever gold in the SEA Games. This is very special to me because my parents are here and the whole nation is watching and cheering for us,” said Diaz, who added her SEAG gold to her growing collection of medals that include the Asian Games gold and a bronze in the world championship.
Thi Thuy Nguyen of Vietnam finished second after lifting a total of 197 kg, followed by Klarisa Juliana of Indonesia at third, who lifted 175 kg.
Arnis shared the limelight by delivering seven more golds for a total of 12 and is assured of the overall championship.
The women’s arnis team swept the padded stick finals with victories from Abegail Abad in welterweight (+60 kg and above), Jedah Mae Soriano in featherweight (+50 kg less 55 kg), Ross Ashley Monville lightweight (+55 kg less 60 kg) and Sheena del Monte in bantamweight (50 kg and less).
The men’s side added three golds courtesy of Elmer Manlapas in featherweight (+55 kg and less), Jesfer Huquire in bantamweight (55 kg and less) and Carloyd Tejada in welterweight (+65 kg and above).
Billy Joel Valenzuela finished with silver in the lightweight (+60 kg less 65 kg) category.
Asian elite champion Monica Torres, meanwhile, played through a stomach problem in her first SEA Games appearance, to win the gold in the women’s duathlon.
A three-time Powerman Asia Duathlon Champion, Torres clocked two hours, eight minutes, and 44 seconds to seal her victory a day after her compatriots John Leerams Chicano and Kim Mangrobang swept the triathlon, which was both held at the Subic Bay Boardwalk.
Triathlon gave the country its third gold medal as Mangrobang and Claire Adorna teamed up with Fernando Casares and Chicano to rule the mixed team relay.
Kim Mangroban, Claire Adorna, Fernando Jose Casares and John Leerams Chicano celebrate after winning the triathlon mixed relay gold. PHOTOS BY ROGER RAÑADA AND RENE H. DILAN
A native of Basilan, de los Reyes clocked 1:53:05 to bag the silver, behind Jauhari Johan of Indonesia who finished in 1:52:51. Thailand’s Nattawut Srinate took the bronze with 1:53:05.
Edmar Tacuel delivered the maiden gold in pencak silat as he steered 470 points in the men’s seni tunggal event held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.
The sixth of the seven children of a farmer and a housekeeper, the Ilonggo impressed the judges to edge Muhammad Iqbal Bin Abdul Rahman of Singapore by nine points.
“This is my first time to join SEA Games and finishing it with a gold medal makes all the sacrifices and tears worthwhile,” said the 20-year-old Tacuel.
Golden hoops
The Philippine 3×3 basketball teams completed a golden sweep as fans cheered wildly at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.Jack Animam, Clare Castro, Janine Pontejos, and Afril Bernardino backed the Gilas women’s 3×3 as it powered a late fightback to beat Thailand, 17-13.
Later on, the undefeated men’s 3×3 squad of CJ Perez, Jason Perkins, Mo Tautuaa and Chris Newsome, capped the dominance with a 21-9 win against Indonesia.
Lea Denise Belgira and John Derrick Far added two more golds by ruling the downhill mountain bike competition at the Tatlong Bungo in Barangay Niyugan, Batangas. Eleazar Barba finished second in the men’s mountain bike downhill race.
SEA Games wushu rookie Jones Llabares Inso snared the silver medal in the men’s taolu taijijian (wushu forms-straight sword) event at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
The 22-year-old Inso came through with a 9.65-point showing after teammate Agatha Wong bagged the gold Monday in women’s taijiquan.
He narrowly missed duplicating Wong’s feat after Malaysia’s Choon How Loh scored 9.68 points.
Tayao Celedonio saved the day for the Philippine shooting team by finishing second in the men’s benchrest air rifle event at the Marine Corps Training Center.
The Philippine billiards team begins its campaign today at the Manila Hotel Tent.
The duo of Carlo Biado and Johannes Chua plunges into action at 10 a.m. for the men’s team 9-ball competition.
Legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes will battle it out in the men’s one-cushion carom, out to surpass his three consecutive SEA Games bronze medal finishes.
Canoe kayak postponed due to ‘Tisoy’
Canoe kayak’s competition manager on Monday decided to reset the games originally scheduled today to December 6 to8 due to Typhoon “Tisoy.”
According to Bonnel Perez, one of the managers in charge for canoe kayak and traditional boat race, the games were moved after the state weather bureau raised typhoon Signal 1 in most of the Luzon area.
“We really need to reschedule the games kasi nga po medyo malakas ‘yung bagyo at may typhoon signal warning na po tayo, so automatic po kasi kapag may signal na kailangan talaga i-postpone muna ang games,” said Perez, who added that they decided to postpone the events for the safety and welfare of the athletes.
Contingency plan
Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara reiterated on Monday that they were ready for the possible effects of the typhoon and reiterated that the 30th SEAG would not be extended beyond its closing date of December 11.“A few days ago, I gave instructions to all the competition managers and venue managers to be ready with the contingency plan,” said Suzara during a press conference at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
“Everything is set. All competition and venue managers and the technical delegate are ready,” he added.
Suzara said they already instructed the suppliers to put down tents outside sporting venues in advance to avoid accidents.
“There’s no extension. There’s always solution by the technical delegate. We talked to all the participating teams for possible realignment of the competitions.”
Windsurfing and sailing, which were earlier postponed due to threats of the typhoon, will be moved to a later date at the same venue.
100 plus gold medals doable – POC
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino reiterated his claim that host Philippines could win the overall title with 130 to 180 golds after a successful opening day .“Of course, adrenaline, mag-snowball na ‘yun (Of course, that’s adrenaline. It’s going to be a snowball),” said Tolentino.
The Philippines won 22 gold medals in the first day.
Dancesport copped 10 gold medals, arnis won four gold medals, triathlon and sepak takraw grabbed two gold medals each, wushu Agatha Wong, and gymnast Carlos Yulo and kurash captured one gold each.
“Ang prediction ko nga is 25. With that kita n’yo na ‘yung momentum. 100 plus is doable,” said Tolentino.
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This article first appeared on The Manila Times.
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