Philippine Sailing Team Grabs 2 Silvers at 27th SEA Games

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippine national sailing team grabbed two silver medals at the last day of sailing competitions yesterday in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Ngwe Saung Beach, Pathein, Myanmar.

Geylord Coveta placed second in the Open RS One Wind Surfing competition, delivering 3 first place finish, 4 second place finish, and 5 third place finish to win the silver medal with a score of 20 points. 

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Thailand’s Natthapong Phonopharat won the gold with 13 points, while Igma Oka Sulaksana of Indonesia taking the bronze medal with 21 points.

In the men’s international 470 event, the duo of Richly Magsanay and Ridgely Balladares scored 25 points after 12 rounds of competitions to grab the silver medal.

Navee Thamsoontorn and Nut Butmarasri won the gold medal with 16 points, while Wen Jie Joel Pang and Wong Loong Darren Choy clinched the bronze with 28 points.

Philippines’ representative in the men’s and women’s laser radial sailing event, Rubin Cruz and Alaiza Mae Belmonte only managed to place 4th after 12 rounds of competition; while Renz Angelo Amboy also placed 4th in the men’s RS one – wind surfing – boys event.

The Philippine sailing team end their 2013 SEA Games campaign with 2 silver medals..
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Philippine Sailing Team Grabs 2 Silvers

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippine national sailing team grabbed two silver medals at the last day of sailing competitions yesterday in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Ngwe Saung Beach, Pathein, Myanmar.

Geylord Coveta placed second in the Open RS One Wind Surfing competition, delivering 3 first place finish, 4 second place finish, and 5 third place finish to win the silver medal with a score of 20 points.

Thailand’s Natthapong Phonopharat won the gold with 13 points, while Igma Oka Sulaksana of Indonesia taking the bronze medal with 21 points.

In the men’s international 470 event, the duo of Richly Magsanay and Ridgely Balladares scored 25 points after 12 rounds of competitions to grab the silver medal.

Navee Thamsoontorn and Nut Butmarasri won the gold medal with 16 points, while Wen Jie Joel Pang and Wong Loong Darren Choy clinched the bronze with 28 points.

Philippines’ representative in the men’s and women’s laser radial sailing event, Rubin Cruz and Alaiza Mae Belmonte only managed to place 4th after 12 rounds of competition; while Renz Angelo Amboy also placed 4th in the men’s RS one – wind surfing – boys event.

The Philippine sailing team end their 2013 SEA Games campaign with 2 silver medals.
pinoyheadline.com

Men’s Poomsae Team Nails SEA Games Gold as Taekwondo Kicks Off

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippines men’s poomsae team started Philippines campaign in taewkondo on a high note, after winning the team event gold medal in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium A, Naypyitwa, Myanmar.

The trio of Dustin Jacob Mella, Raphael Enrico Mella and Marvin Gabriel Vidal, topped the scoreboard with 7.920 points, way ahead the silver medalist, team Indonesia who managed to score only 7.590. Team Thailand settled for bronze with 7.550 points.

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Poised to grab another gold for the country, Marvin Gabriel Vidal was shocked by the Burmese newbie Thaw Zin Han who stole the gold from the Filipino by scoring 8.035 in the men’s poomsae singles.

Vidal settled for the siler with 8.035, while Vietnamese’ Anh Minh Le won the bronze with 7.910 points.

The world class women’s poomsae team on the other hand composed of Ma Carla Janice Lagman, Rani Ortega and Rinna Babanto were shockingly relegated to third place, settling for the bronze, with the Vietnamese trio of Thi Le Kim Nguyen, Thi Thu Ngan Nguyen and Tuhet Van Chau winning the gold with 7.950 points.

The women’s trio only managed to score 7.665 points, behind Thailand who won the silver with 7.785 points.

Team Indonesia who scored 7.670 shared the gold with the Philippines who scored only 7.665 (the lowest in the group).

In the men’s 68-74 kg, Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison settled for silver after bowing down to Thailand’s Peerathep Silaon, 7-8.

Morrison was leading 4-1 in the first round, but the Thai fought harder in the next round to finish round two with 6-4 score.

Determined to win another gold for Taekwondo in the opening day, Morrision was all pumped up in the third round, but only managed two score 3 points while Silaon score another 4 points to beat the Filipino.

On day two of action in the Taekwondo, Gershon Bautista is seeing action in men’s 63kg-68kg, Christianal dela Cruz in Men’s 74-80 kg, and Jade Zafra (PHI) in Women’s 53-57 kg.

Bagsit Powers To Second Victory

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Archand Christian Bagsit pulled off a phenomenal run in final leg of the men’s 4×400-meter relay to become the second Filipino double-gold medalist at the 27th Southeast Asian Games here. 

On a day when golds on the track proved elusive, the quartet of Isidro del Prado Jr., Julius Nierras, Edgardo Alejan and Bagsit put on a swashbuckling performance that capped a productive stint for Philippine athletics.

The PH quartet clocked 3 minutes 09.32 seconds to beat Thailand (3:09.81) and Malaysia (3:15.06) and improve on its silver-medal finish in 2011 Indonesia.

Only Del Prado, who replaced Junrey Bano, was not a member of that foursome.

“All the hard work paid off,” said the 22-year-old Bagsit, who also ruled the men’s 400m. “I never thought we could win it.”

Trailing by a several meters after receiving the baton from Nierras, Bagsit, a financial management major at Letran, chased the last Thai runner and surged ahead in the last 50m.

“When I reached the final straight, I knew that the gold’s ours,” said the protege of two-time Olympian Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito.

After five days of action at Wunna Theikdi Stadium here, the Filipinos have seized six gold, four silver and three bronze medals, a vast improvement on their 2-9-5 collection two years ago.

Apart from Bagsit’s twin victories, long-jumper Henry Dagmil, Eric Shauwn Cray (400m hurdles), decathlete Jesson Cid and Christopher Ulboc Jr. (3000m steeplechase) also contributed to the most productive stint by a PH national sports association here.

Princess Superal was the country’s first double gold medalist here after ruling invididual play while powering the country’s team to victory in women’s golf.

Cray earlier placed sixth in the men’s 110m hurdles. The Filipino-American from University of Oklahoma clocked 14.34 seconds in the race won by Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet (13.72).

“It’s not my event,” said Cray. “I fared bad.”

In the men’s 1,500m, Melvin Guarte placed fourth with a time of 3:58.43 and Ulboc landed seventh out of eight runners (4:05.76). Vietnam’s Van Thai Dong ruled the event in 3:58.02.

Fil-Am Jessica Barnard finished last out of four runners in the women’s 1500m (4:22.64) won by Vietnam’s Thi Thao Do in 4:22.64.

Benigno Marayag placed fifth (15.59 meters) in men’s triple jump won by another Viet, Van Hung Nguyen (16.67).

Inquirer.net

Switch From Basketball to Track Pays Off for Former Terrence Romeo Teammate Bagsit

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Unknown to many, two-time Southeast Asian Games double gold winner Archand Christian Bagsit was part of an elite batch — not in athletics, but in basketball.

Before switching to track, Bagsit actually played for Letran's juniors team in the NCAA, where he was a teammate of GlobalPort star Terrence Romeo and Gilas cadet member Kevin Alas, in the Squires' 2007 team.

Romeo eventually moved to Far Eastern University before getting drafted in the PBA earlier this year, while Alas stayed on at Letran, before becoming a member of the national team in the SEA Games.

Other notable players from that talented 2007 Squires squad are University of the East’s JM Noble and National University’s Glenn Khobuntin.

While unheralded in that batch, Alas recalled that Bagsit was one of the fastest and hardest working players on that Squires squad.

“Siya ang pinakamasipag sa team. Pinakamabilis at hindi napapagod,” said Alas, who, like Bagsit, also won a SEA Games gold when Sinag Pilipinas bagged the country's 16th gold medal in men’s basketball.

Bagsit's talent obviously made him perfect for athletics.

While his other teammates made a name for themselves in basketball, Bagsit became part of the athletics team in Letran before making the grade on the national team.

After winning silver in the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia, Bagsit finally claimed not just one, but two gold medals as he ruled the 400-meter run in Myanmar before, joining forces with Isidro Del Prado, Julius Nierras, and Edgar Alejan in a golden performance in the 4x400m run.
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A Dozen of Gold at Stake for Team Philippines Today

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. A dozen of gold medals are at stake for Filipino athletes seeing action today at the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, and one of the 12 is a sure gold medal from men’s basketball team.

Sinag Pilipinas faces Malaysia this afternoon in their last match in the SEA Games to formalize their gold medal win.

Read more: pinoyheadline.com


As athletics officially firing-off today, Filipino athletes gun for a total of four gold medals in the men’s 400m, hammer throw, long jump and women’s pole vault events.

Middle distance runner Archand Christian Bagsit, long jumper Henry Dagmil and hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, all aim to convert their 2011 SEA Games silver medals to gold.

Other athletes favored to deliver a golden finish today are Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, and both the men’s and women’s team kumite.

Ronald Oranza and Mark John Lexer Galedo will race in the men’s Road Race 50km Individual Time Trial and hope for a podium finish, so as swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi and Joshua Hall who are competing in the 200m freestyle and 200m breaststroke events, respectively.

Woodpushers Eugene Torre and Darwin Laylo will have to win all their games today in the men’s Asean Individual Standard Chess to have a crack for a medal finish.

Sailing action also officially kick-off today Ngwe Saung Beach, Pathein, with sailors and windsurfers Richly Magsanay, Ridgely Balladares, Rubin Cruz, Renz Angelo Amboy, Alaiza Mae Belmonte and Geylord Coveta seeing action.

Sailing does not offer any medal today though.

Here’s the list of other non-medal round games that Filipino athletes are entered today:

08:00 John Kier Abdon, Jobim Antonio Carlos, Rupert Zaragosa III, and Justin Raphael Quiban (Golf’s Men’s First Round)
10:00 Richly Magsanay / Ridgely Balladares (R1-3: Men’s International 470 Sailing)
10:00 Rubin Cruz (R1-3: Men’s Laser Standard Sailing)
10:00 Renz Angelo Amboy (R1-3: Men’s RS one(wind surfing)(Boys) Sailing)
10:00 Alaiza Mae Belmonte (R1-3: Women’s Laser Radial Sailing)
10:00 Geylord Coveta (R1-3: Open RS One (wind surfing))
09:30 Narcisa Atienza (Athletics: Women’s Heptathlon)
10:00 Perlas Pilipinas VS Indonesia
10:00 Dennis Orcollo & Caro Bidao (Men’s 9-Ball Billiards)
10:30 : Archand Christian Bagsit & Edgardo Alejan (Athletics Heats : Men’s 400m )
14:40 YAP Earl Benjamin (PHI) VS SAIDARA Daliya (LAO) (R1: Men’s Compound Individual)
14:40 ADRIANO Delfin Anthony (PHI) VS PANG Toh Jin (SIN) (R1: Men’s Compound Individu

Alkhaldi Settles for Bronze After Re-swim

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Olympic swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi settled for a third place in today’s re-swim of the women’s 100m freestyle event in the 27th Southeast Asian Games swimming competition in Wunna Theikdi Swimming Pool, Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

In what’s suppose to be a gold medal yesterday, Alkhaldi had to give up her medal and re-race the 100m freestyle event after SEA Games officials favored Thailand’s protest on the false start buzz at the start of yesterday’s race.

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Scheduled as the first event in the evening finals, all eyes were on Alkhaldi who showed-up in the re-swim as true and dignified sportsman.

Alkhaldi started well just like yesterday, still trailing Singapore’s Ting Wen Qua on her left, but this time ahead of Amanda Lim on her right.

Unlike yesterday, Thailand’s Natthanan Junkrajang and Jenjira Srisaard in lane 2 and 3 also came really strong, with Nathanan leading all four swimmers in the middle of the race by a couple of millisecond, with Alkhaldi in a very close 4th position.

Again, Alkhaldi propelled her way in the last 20 meters of the race, but her effort was only enough to finish third to Nathanan who won the gold and Ting Wen Quah who took the silver.

Alkhaldi clocked 56.63 seconds to win the bronze medal (her first SEA Games medal); 0.02 seconds faster that her gold medal swim yesterday, but slower that her personal best of 56.37 she clocked in this year’s world championship in August, which is the current Philippine national record.

Nathanan won the race with a gold medal time of 56.23, while Ting Wen Quah who still finished second in this event clocked 56.54

Alkhaldi looked not so happy in the awarding ceremony, compared to yesterday’s awarding ceremony where she was all smile.

After the swimming event this evening, Alkhaldi dedicated her swim to God, and thanked all the people who supported her in such tragic event.

In her Facebook status, she wrote : “I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I am so thankful and blessed to be able to get my first ever SEA Games medal tonight, though there were a lot of challenges that came my way- the Filipino spirit does not give up (hehe). I dedicate my swim to God, without Him I wouldn’t have even come this far and I couldn’t be more proud on how I handled the situation,” wrote Alkhaldi.

“Some things are just worth better than gold, I did my best and I’m pretty sure that I left my mark. It’s not about winning the race; it’s about how you finish it. I would like to THANK everyone that sent me messages and cheered me on. Knowing that I had the whole country behind my back is such a blessing and made me feel a million times better, salamat sa suporta na ibinigay niyo sa mga atletang pinoy! Thanks for the looooove!!!”, Alkhaldi added.

As of press time, Philippine Swimming Incorporated has already filed a protest to the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), the world governing body of Aquatics. The protest though will actually take months until decision is made.

Apart from Alkaldi’s win in today’s swimming finals, Fil-foreign swimmer Joshua Hall also delivered a bronze medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke event with a time of 1:03.32. Come-backing swimmer Radomyos Matjiur of Thailand won the gold with a time of 1:03.06, while Indra Gunawan of Indonesia took the silver by clocking 1:03.18.

Matt Navatta and Jessie Khing Lacuna failed to medal in their respective events today, with Navatta almost winning the bronze in the 200m individual medley event where he placed 4th with a time of 2:05.44.

Olympian Jessie Lacuna placed 5th in the 100m freestyle event with a time of 51.52. This is his first time to enter in this event in SEA Games.

Swimming tomorrow are Jessie Khing Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi in the 100m butterfly events.

In the morning heats which starts at 9:00am (10:30am Manila time) Lacuna swims in lane 3 of heat 1 with a seed time of 55.92; while Alkhaldi swims in lane 5 of heat 1 with a seed time of 1:01.71.

Top 8 swimmers in the morning heats advance to the evening finals which starts at 6:00pm (7:30pm Manila time).

Boxing & Karatedo End Philippines’ Gold Medal Drought in SEA Games

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. After two consecutive days without winning a single gold medal, Philippine boxing and karatedo teams end the gold medal drought in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, winning four gold medals today.

Boxer Jovie Gabuco started the medal haul by ruling the women’s light flyweight division in a majority decision win over Indonesia’s Beatrix Suguro.

Read more: pinoyheadline.com

Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga then delivered the second gold by overpowering Konelis Kwangu Langu of Indonesia in the 49kg class, followed by Mario Fernandez who shut-out Thailand’s Donchai Tathi also in a unanimous decision, in the bantamweight division.

Karaeka Ramon Antonio Franco sneaked in another gold medal in the men’s individual kumite -55 kg, to add up the gold medal haul to four.

Franco beat Brunei’s Muhammad Fadaiy Sanif, 8-6, in the finals to win Karatedo’s first gold in this year’s SEA Games.

Coming close to a golden finish today are boxers Junel Cantanioc (60kg), Dennis Galvan (64kg), Wilfredo Lopez (75kg) and Nesthy Petecion (57kg) who all lost their final bouts and settled for silver.

Mae Soriano, one of the gold medal prospects of the Karatedo team, also settled for silver after loosing in a very close fight for the gold in the women’s individual kumite 55kg.

Another gold medal hopeful and defending champion, Rubilen Amit also lost the women’s 9-ball gold to Indonesia’s Magdalena Ticoalu in a lopsided finals, 7-2; while compatriot Efren Bata Reyes and Francisco delos Reyes both lost their semifinal battles in the men’s 1 Cushion Carom Single and settled for bronze.

Adding more medals for Philippines are Jasmine Alkhaldi (100m Butterfly), Joanna Mae Ylanan (Individual Kumite 68kg), and Rogelio Antonio Jr. (international individual blitz), who contributed a bronze medal each.

Woodpushers Mark Paragua, Janelle Mae Frayna and Catherine Perena failed to medal today in the international individual blitz chess event, so as the lone biker seeing action today, Joey Barba who placed 5th in the Men’s Mountain Bike Down Hill 1.5km finals with a time of 2:29.505.

Sinag Pilipinas beat Indonesia, 83-52, and is set to face Malaysia today to formalize their gold medal win.

Archers were off to a good start at the men’s compound individual qualification in he afternoon where Earl Benjamine Yap placed 2nd, Delfin Anthony Adriano in 5th, Ian Patrick Chipeco in 11th, and Jose Ferdinand Adriano in 20th position.

Team Philippines ended today’s action with 3 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals.

 

Philippine Athletics Kick Off SEA Games Campaign Today

PHILIPPINE UPDATED. Philippines athletics team are all fired up for a good start today, as athletics events kick off at the 27th SEA Games in Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

Spearheading the first day of athletics action are middle distance runner Archand Christian Bagsit, long jumper Henry Dagmil and hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, all gunning to convert their 2011 SEA Games silver medals to gold.

Bagsit, the first to see action in the morning heats today, came so close in winning the gold in his SEA Games debut two years ago in Palembang, Indonesia, barely losing the 400m run gold to Indonesia’s Heru Astriyanto.

“He has improved a lot since Indonesia,” said Phl athletics team leader Luisito Arciaga on the eve of the sport’s kickoff. “This time, he’s one of our strongest bets for the gold.”

Bagsit, then only 20, lost the 400m gold to Astriyanto with a clocking of 47.71s to the Indonesian’s 47.53 in Palembang. He now clocks a season’s best of 47.11 en route to his golden campaign this year.

Joining Bagsit in the 400m heats this morning is Edgardo Alejan who is the fastest Filipino runner at present in the 400m dash with season’s best of 46.95.

Dagmil and Ferrera start their campaign this afternoon, with Dagmil taking the first jump in the order of events which starts at 14:00pm. He’ll be joined by Benigno Marayag who has been jumping better distance than Damil this year.

Also seeing action today are Riezel Buenaventura in the women’s pole vault and Narcisa Atienza in heptathlon.

Philippine athletics which only won two gold medals last 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, hope to deliver 6 gold medals this year, and they hope to win two of those 6 today to fire-up the team.

Athletics has the most number of athletes this year in Myanmar SEA Games. A total of 24 athletes are seeing action in various events.

Not seeing action today are hurdler Eric Shauwn Cray, 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechaser Jessica Barnard, high jumper Tyler Ruiz, Eliezer Sunang, Rene Herrera, Ernest John Obiena, Loralie Sermona, Katherine Khay Santos, Julius Felicisimo Nierras, Mervin Guarte, Danilo Fresnido, Jesson Ramil Cid, Junrey Bano, Eric Panique, Christopher Ulboc Jr., Isidro del Prado Jr., Tyler Ruiz, and Rosie Villarito

Philipines Sends 7 Boxers to Gold-Medal Tiffs

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippine boxing team looked poised to surpass its previous four-gold haul after five more fighters, led by Olympian Mark Barriga, reached the finals Friday in the 27th Southeast Asian Games at Wunna Theikdi Stadium here. 

Except for Rey Saludar’s surprise loss to a Burmese fighter in what was described by the PH delegation head as a hometown decision, the men’s team pulled through as expected, jacking up the number of Filipinos in Saturday’s finals to seven, two fewer than top rival Thailand’s nine.

 
In a match that was more lopsided than what the judges’ scores indicated, Barriga beat Mohd Faud Mohd Reuvan of Malaysia by split decision, 30-27, 28-29, 30-27, to reach the light flyweight finals.

But a promising start took a twist when Saludar, the 2010 Asian Games flyweight gold medalist, lost to Mg Nge of Myanmar, 28-29, 27-30, 28-29, much to the chagrin of team officials.

“It was a hometown decision,” said Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson.

The PH pugs quickly got back on track with bantamweight Mario Fernandez, lightweight Junel Cantancio, light welterweight Dennis Galvan and welterweight Wilfredo Lopez assuring the country of at least a silver just like featherweight Nesthy Petecio and light flyweight Josie Gabuco in the women’s category.

A relentless Fernandez crushed Tran Quoc Viet of Vietnam, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27, while Cantancio, showing guile and experience, prevailed over Muhamad Ridhawan Ahmad of Singapore, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27. 

Galvan barely survived Ericok Amonupunyo of Indonesia, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28, while Lopez, using his reach to score heavily on counterpunches, recovered from a lethargic first round to frustrate Alex Tatantos of Indonesia, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29.

Cantancio, Fernandez and Galvan will be facing Thai foes in the finals, while Lopez and Petecio will duel Myanmar boxers. Barriga and Gabuco will be up against Indonesian foes.
sports.inquirer.net
 

Sinag Dribblers Show Worth, Rip Thailand

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Sinag Philippines, playing with more fire on both ends, demolished Thailand, 100-68, Friday at Zayar Thiri Indoor Stadium to move within two victories of clinching the gold medal that matters most to the country. 

University of Santo Tomas star Kevin Ferrer shot 23 points, while former San Beda Red Lion Jake Pascual and Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo played their best games of the tournament by combining for 29 points as Sinag hurdled what was considered their toughest contender for the men’s basketball title. 
Pascual also collected a team-high 10 rebounds. 

 
Showing better cohesion, Sinag flexed its defensive muscle early, putting the clamps on Thailand’s shooters, while Ferrer and Garvo Lanete found their rhythm from beyond the arc to propel the Filipinos to a commanding 54-33 lead at the break. 

With Ray Parks and Marcus Douthit also doing damage, Sinag coasted trouble free while pinning a first loss on the Thais, who fell to 3-1. 

The game was marred by a scuffle in the last period with the Philippines ahead, 90-54. 

Thailand forward Chanachon Klahan swung an elbow at Pascual while driving to the basket, before pushing away Jericho Cruz who was trying to step in and pacify the fiery Thai player. Chanachon was ejected from the game. 

The Filipino cagers opened their campaign with an 88-75 dumping of a much-improved Singapore squad, before cruising to wins over Cambodia (107-57) and Myanmar (118-43). 

The win against Thailand, though, has been the most impressive as far as coach Jong Uichico is concerned. 

“This (performance) was what I wanted from them, especially on defense,” said Uichico. “I just hope we sustain this in the last two games.” 

Sinag tangles with Indonesia, which has lost three of its four games in the tournament, at 10 a.m. today and a victory could virtually seal the country’s 16th gold in men’s basketball. 

Malaysia will be Sinag’s last opponent on Sunday in the single-round tournament. 
sports.inquirer.net
 

Philippines Closer to Gold in SEA Games Hoops After Rout of Indonesia

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippines is a win away from the precious gold medal in the 27th Southeast Asian Games basketball tournament, closing in after an 83-52 crushing of Indonesia Saturday in Myanmar. 

The remaining assignment in the Filipinos’ championship retention bid is Malaysia and they clash on Sunday at Zeya-thiri Stadium in  Nay Pyi Taw to conclude the single-round tournament. 


Naturalized center Marcus Douthit paced Sinag Pilipinas with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Kiefer Ravena added 10 points off the bench. Kevin Ferrer and Mac Belo chipped in nine points apiece. 

Coming off three straight dominant wins, the Filipinos managed to keep up with the trend and broke the game wide open in the third period, after leading by only four at the half. 

Xaverius Prawiro scored 14 for the Indonesians, who only managed 18 points in the entire second half while the Filipinos had no problem imposing their will.
sports.inquirer.net

Boxing Women Results Day 11, Philippines Gold

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Boxing Women, results Day 11, Philippines bags gold in boxing women’s 45-48 kg division. Josie Gabuco defeats Warni Halawa of Indonesia, Saturday at 27th Southeast Asian Games boxing gymnasium of the Wunnum Theikdi National Sports Complex Myanmar.

The reigning world titlist who emerged as pinweight champion in the 2011 edition of the biennial Games in Indonesia. Gabuco earns her ticket to the finals after defeating Sonkra Chantavonsra of Laos.

Punches her way way off to the finals light-flyweight category in the 27th Southeast Asian Games women’s boxing competition last Thursday night at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium.

The final results officiated by the judges: Gold – Philippines, Indonesia boxer took the silver and
Bronze medals went to Laos & Myanmar.

Eight Filipino boxers already assured of SEA Games medals. Seven Filipino boxers will get their shot at Southeast Asian Games gold as the Philippines dominated the proceedings Friday afternoon. Josie Gabuco. 
File photo courtesy of ABAP
freedistrict.com

No Taking It Easy for Philippines SEA Games Quintet

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. There’s no such thing as a sure gold medal as far as the national basketball team bound for the Southeast Asian Games in Burma (Myanmar) is concerned. 

Basketball’s perennial title favorite knows all too well that overconfidence, even just a little of it, can spell disaster in the biennial meet. 

“We just can’t look past the teams there (in the SEA Games),” assistant coach Josh Reyes said at yesterday’s PSA Forum in Shakey’s Malate. “Whether we win by one point or 50, what’s important is we win the gold.” 

Naturalized center Marcus Douthit, who is close to recovering from a calf injury, and members of the Gilas cadet team banner the national squad skippered by Kevin Alas.

“We are expecting no less than a gold,” said Alas, who sprained an ankle recently. 

The team leaves for Nay Pi Taw today, along with the women’s team, which is looking to improve on its silver-medal finish in the 2011 Games in Indonesia. 

“We’re hoping to get the first gold in women’s basketball,” said Perlas Pilipinas coach Haydee Ong. “Everyone will be looking at us since we won the silver two years ago.” 

Perlas was close to taking the title then, but a lapse in judgment led to Thailand forcing overtime and eventually winning. 

“We’re using that loss (in Indonesia) as motivation,” said co-skipper Ewon Arayi. 

sports.inquirer.net

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SEA Games Hoops Teams Optimistic

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Thailand and Indonesia are on Gilas-Pilipinas’ radar screen but Singapore may end up throwing a curve ball in the Southeast Asian Games basketball competitions in Myanmar, assistant head coach Joshua Reyes said yesterday.

Based on Gilas-Pilipinas recent scouting report, the Singaporeans are fielding a team that has what it takes to surprise the competition.

“Singapore beat a few PBA D-League teams and went on a tour of China and beat (Chinese) Division II squads,” said Reyes during the PSA Forum.
“They’re (Singaporeans) the biggest threat,” added Reyes.

Still, the Thais and Indonesians, traditional title contenders, are foes not to be taken for granted.

The Gilas-Pilipinas team will be made up mostly of cadet players plus Marcus Douthit, the 6-11 slotman of the men’s squad.

Collegiate stars Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Kevin Alas, Jake and Kyle Pascual are the main men of the team and they’ve been practicing regularly to guarantee that the gold medal won’t slip away from their hands.

Gilas gets the chance to know whether Singapore is all bark than bite when they clash in the first day of hostilities on Dec. 9. Succeeding games will be against Cambodia on Dec. 10, Myanmar on Dec. 12, Thailand on Dec. 13, Indonesia on Dec. 14 and Myanmar on Dec. 15.

Meanwhile, the women’s team main concern seems to be how to overcome boredom as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas deputy executive director Bernie Atienza revealed during the same forum.

Atienza said the team was briefed by the SEAG task force and were assured of first-class accommodation in Nay Pyi Taw, the main hub of the SEA Games.
“It’s more of the boredom because according to the orientation, the hotels are all brand-new but that there are no restaurants, convenience stores,” said Atienza.

Head coach Heidi Ong said the team feels a lot of pressure.

“We are hoping to get the first gold medal for women’s basketball,” said Ong, who was joined by team manager Cynthia Tiu and two players.
yahoo.com

First Batch of SEA Games Bets Off Today

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The first wave of Filipino athletes from wrestling, wushu and sailing will leave today for the 27th Southeast Asian Games set Dec. 11 to 22 in Burma (Myanmar). 

Double gold medalists Margarito Angana Jr. and Jason Balabal, the country’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremony, are bound for Yangon where the wrestling competitions will be held beginning Dec. 9. With them are fellow grapplers Joseph Angana, Alvin Lobrequito, Noel Norada and Jhonny Morte. 

Sanda fighters Daniel Parantac, Jessie Aligaga, Dembert Arcita, Francisco Solis, Divine Wally and Evita Elise Zamora will proceed to the SEA Games hub in Naypy-itaw where wushu unfolds on Dec. 6. 

Duilian performers John Keithley Chan, Natasha Enriquez, Kariza Kris Chan and Norlence Catolico will join them along with Chinese coaches Qinghai Tong, Quan Chan and Ma Qing. 

Sailors Richly Magsanay, Ridgely Balladares, Rubin Cruz Jr., Alaiza Mae Belmonte, Geylord Coveta and Renz Angelo Amboy will fly to Singapore at 7:30 tonight for an overnight stay before proceeding to Yangon the following day. 

From Yangon, they will leave at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 for Pathein, where sailing is scheduled on Ngwe Saung Beach from Dec. 13 to 20. 

“We’ve been preparing for months. Now bring home the gold,” chef de mission Jeff Tamayo told athletes, coaches and team managers in yesterday’s final orientation at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

 

Members of men’s and women’s basketball, boxing, women’s football and canoe kayak are scheduled to leave tomorrow. Athletes in pencak silat will leave on Thursday while those in badminton will depart on Friday. 

Athletes in billiards, mountain bike, rowing and shooting will leave on Dec. 7.

sports.inquirer.net

 

Philippine Team Tramples Cebuana Lhuillier in First Match before SEA Games

PHILIPPINES UPDATED. In its first-ever tuneup match as a team, the Philippine squad set to compete in the Southeast Asian Games trounced PBA D-League club Cebuana Lhuillier, 90-62.

For Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena, who helped the country win the SEA Games basketball gold in 2011, it was the first opportunity to team up with naturalized center Marcus Douthit.

“I’m still learning how to play with him,” said the Blue Eagles hotshot, who added that it was fun to once again play with a giant center. Ravena spent his first two years in the UAAP playing alongside 7-foot center Greg Slaughter, who was no longer eligible to play for the Blue Eagles this past UAAP season.

Douthit and Ravena lead the cast for coach Jong Uichico. Also on the team Ray Parks, Kevin Alas, Matt Rosser Ganuelas, Ronald Pascual, Jake Pascual, Garvo Lanete, Kevin Ferrer, Rey Mark Belo, Jericho Cruz, and Prince Caperal.

It was a good showing for the national team, considering they’ve only been practicing in earnest for less than a week.

For Ravena, it is another opportunity to play with a different set of teammates apart from his usual Ateneo comrades.

“It was nice to play with people you are used to playing against,” said Ravena, who along with Parks, Lanete, and Jake Pascual are holdovers from the Sinag Pilipinas squad that won the tournament two years ago in Indonesia. “It was a new experience for me.”

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'Let's Show the World How Resilient Filipinos Are'

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco sees the 2013 Southeast Asian Games as an opportunity to show the Filipinos’ ability to rise from adversity and uplift the spirits of the nation in the wake of calamities.

Speaking before Team Philippines during the send-off party on Wednesday night, Cojuangco challenged the athletes to put up a respectable showing to serve as an inspiration for the Filipino people in the wake of an earthquake and super typhoon that hit the country.

“Let’s show what kind of people the Filipinos are. Doble ngayon ang pinaglalaban natin, ang sarili natin at mga kababayan natin na naghihirap sa Visayas,” said Cojuangco in his speech during the send-off held at his residence in Dasmarinas Village, Makati City.

"The whole world is looking at Filipinos because of the calamity in the Visayas region … We now have a chance to do something about it, to uplift their spirits and show the world that we Filipinos, when we get into something, despite of all the handicaps and problems, we are still one and all for the Philippines."

At least half of the 210 athletes that will compete in the SEA Games attended the send-off party that began with a Mass and ended with a dinner and program to motivate the athletes in their quest for a gold medal.

Aside from Cojuangco, also in attendance were Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ritchie Garcia, chief of mission Jeff Tamayo, and several sports officials.

A lean team will be going to Myanmar after several events were scrapped by the organizers, a perceived move to dislodge the Philippines from sixth place - its position in 2011 when the country won 36 gold medals.

Although Philippine sports officials had protested the organizers’ move by sending a lean team, Cojuangco said he still expects the athletes to fight it out and bring honor to the country.

“Sa Myanmar, labing-anim agad ang tinaggal. Ibig sabihin, maski kailan pa, takot sila sa Pilipinas. Ang Pilipino, maski papaano, lumalaban,” said Cojuangco.

The POC chief declined to give his projection for the SEA Games. “Hinihingi ko lang na makita natin kung anong klaseng Pilipino tayo. When we compete, we compete with a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and determination. ‘Yung medalya, darating din ‘yun,” he said.

 spin.ph

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Wesley So Out from Philippine SEA Games Team

PHILIPINNE UPDATED. Super Grandmaster and a sure gold medal winner, Wesley So, has been officially taken out from Philippine roster in the upcoming 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar next month.

POC-PSC SEA Games Task Force member Payl Ycasas confirmed that the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) sent letter informing the task force that 18 year old So has been removed from their roster of athletes.

“The NCFP sent a letter to the POC address to Chairman Tom Carrasco and Team PH Chef de Mission Jeff Tamayo that they will remove the name of Wesley So in their chess roster. The full reason is not clear on my part as only my higher officials know, and the only thing I know is Wesley reasoned out his schooling,” said Ycasas.

The removal of So from the list is considered a big blow to NCFP’s campaign this year considering that So has just recently won the gold medal at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia, and he is the defending championship in the blitz event.

With So’s removal, the team is left with Eugene Torre, Mark Paragua, Joey Antonio and Darwin Laylo to represent the country in all 16 chess events in this year’s SEA Games.
pinoyheadline.com
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Nestor Colonia Out from Philippines’ SEA Games Squad?

PHILIPPINE UPDATED. Possibility of Nestor Colonia to be scratched from the SEA Games squad is high after he failed to lift the required weight last Tuesday’s qualifying lift in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, attended by SEA Games Chef de Mission Co. Jeff Tamayo.

Nestor Colonia has already booked his SEA Games ticket last Philippine National Games in May where he lifted 284kg, enough to erase the 208kg Gold medal lift in 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia 58kg division.

He was then sent by PSC to China for three months to prepare for the most important biennial meet in the region; but after coming back from China, he has gained weight thus he had to participate again in the qualifying lift last Tuesday to test his potential in his new weight division, men’s 62kg.

Tamayo was disappointed after Colonia did not deliver.

Because of this, the SEA Games Task Force asked the Philippine Weightlifting Association to remove Colonia from the official list and replace him with Asian Junior Weightlifting champion, Jeffrey Garcia, along with Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting squad.

Twenty year old Garcia lifted 167kg clean and jerk, and 125kg snatch with a total of 270kg which is quite close to the SEA Games standard of 310kg in men’s 62kg division.

If Jeffrey Garcia will be officially included in the line-up though, he still has to reduce weight from 68kg to 62kg.

In the recent Asian Junior Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Garcia bagged two gold medals where he topped the clean and jerk and total lift in the junior men’s 62 kilogram division.

Nestor Colonia, meanwhile, won three silver medals — snatch, clean and jerk, and total in the 56 kilogram event.

Garcia took the gold despite finishing only sixth in the snatch with a lift of 115 kilograms. He hoisted 155 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 270 kg.

Garcia actually tied Su Xingbao’s total but had a higher tiebreak score. Artykov Izzat of Kyrgyzstan took the bronze medal in the total event.

Around 400 weightlifters from 48 countries participated in the meet.
pinoyheadline.com
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