SEAG GOLD RUSH: Golfers, cue aces, trackster, Muay fighter shine
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Dec 2009
An amazing pair of gold rush each in golf and billiards highlighted the Philippines? six wins yesterday in the 25th SEA Games in separate playing fields in Vientiane, Laos.
Chihiro Ikeda took individual honors via sudden-death and propped the women golfers? romp in the team event to make up for a devastating third place finish by their male counterparts at the Booyoung SEA Games Golf Club.
Former double world champion Ronnie Alcano formally laid claim to the 8-ball singles title while Rubilen Amit ruled the women?s side of the same event at the Donchan Palace Convention Centre.
Together with trackster Rene Herrera?s victory 3,000-meter steeplechase and the surprising points victory by muay artist Zaidi Laruan over Laotian Vixay Bounthavy in their lightweight finals, Team Philippines looked to have gained found momentum in its bid to improve on the country?s sixth place overall two years ago heading into the last four days of this biennial sports conclave.
Suddenly, the Filipinos found themselves separating from the pressing host country for sixth place. They now have an 18-19-22 gold-silver-bronze count to the hosts? 15-7-27 as of 6 p.m. (7 p.m. Manila time).
Also, the Philippines could at least tie Indonesia for fifth, the latter only one gold ahead with the last six swimming finals slated later yesterday.
Thailand, overall champion on home soil two years ago, is seemingly bent on running away from the rest of the field with 40 golds. Vietnam has 31, Singapore 25 and Malaysia 21.
?Nahirapan ako pero, maswerte pa din kasi nakapuntos ako sa mga pagkakamali n?ya nu?ng una,? said Amit, the reigning world 10-ball champion following her 5-1 win over 2007 titlist Angeline Ticoal of Indonesia.
Amit actually jumped the gun on her foe, racing to a 4-0 lead and retained her focus to turn the highly-anticipated matchup into a rout.
Alcano actually started the day?s gold rush, beating compatriot Gandy Valle 7-1 in an all-Filipino final that was forged when they easily hurdled their semifinals opponents Sunday evening.
Another small athlete with a big heart was Herrera, who left his opponents in his wake early before easily retaining his steeplechase crown with a clocking of nine minutes, 11.21 seconds.
Laruan was as impressive, outpointing his Laotian opponent before a predominantly hostile crowd at the Beung Kha Ngong Sports Centre for the martial sport?s breakthrough contribution to the RP cause.
?At least one gold. That?s our target when we left Manila a week ago. Ma-improve lang namin ?yung finish namin sa Thailand in 2007 that would be all right with us,? said muay association officer-in-charge and team manager Red Dumuk.
There were promising signs elsewhere.
Flyweight Annie Albania and light-fly Alice Kate Aparri disposed of their respective semifinals foes and joined pinweight Josie Gabuco in the women?s all-finals Wednesday.
Aside from Valle, also finishing with a silver are light-fly Ronald Claro and lightweight Zaidi Laruan in muay and the pair of Jaime Asok and Ryan Fabriga in a controversial windup in diving?s 10m synchronized diving.
Lightweight Mitchel Martinez lost a 4-7 decision to Thai Peamwilai Laopeam and was relegated to the bronze, along with trackster Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero in the 5,000m run and the men?s golf team.
Also with chances to snare the gold Tuesday are light-welter Jonathan Polosan and flyweight Romnick Pabalate in muay, archers Jennifer Chan and Earl Benjamin Yap and the RP bets in track and field, judo and shooting
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