By WAYLON GALVEZ
Games Friday (New Clark City, Tarlac)
10 a.m. – Thailand vs Singapore (Women’s)
5 p.m. – Indonesia vs Malaysia (Men’s)
7 p.m. – Singapore vs Philippines (Men’s)
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The Philippine polo team in file photo.
The national team solidified its bid for a first-ever gold medal in water polo following a 7-4 win over Thailand in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Thursday at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Tarlac.
Veteran player Roy Cañete scored three goals for the Philippines, which improved its record to three points after earning a 6-6 draw against Indonesia on its first game last Tuesday.
Paolo Serrano, who converted the tying goal against Indonesia, finished with two goals, while Filipino-American Vince Sicat and Aljon Salonga Jr. each delivered a goal each for the national team.
“This is a big win for the national team,” said coach Rey Galang. “This moves us closer to our goal of winning a medal – hopefully a gold medal this time. That is what we are aiming for.”
The national team also did well defensively with veteran goalie Tani Gomez providing key shot blocks.
With three points in the single round group play, the Filipinos (1-0-1) are currently at second spot behind 2017 SEA Games silver medalist Indonesia (2-0-1), which has five points after a stunning 7-5 win over defending champion Singapore also last night.
It was the first setback for Singapore, which has won the gold 27 times since the sport of water polo was included to the biennial meet during the 1965 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Singapore is at third spot with two points (1-1-0), and Thailand (1-2-0) at fourth also with two points. Malaysia (0-2-0), bronze medalist two years ago, is at bottom fifth of the team standings.
After a stunning blowout win of Thailand against Malaysia last Tuesday, the Philippines knew it’s not going to be an easy match. True enough, the first period ended with the game tied at 1-1.
But the national team started to turn things around in the second period when Serrano converted his first goal of the match. Sicat and Cañete then joined the party with a goal each that gave the Philippines as opposed to Thailand’s single goal for a 4-2 advantage at halftime break.
Cañete started the third frame with his second goal before Serrano scored his second goal too on a penalty shot that gave the national team its biggest lead of the game at 6-2 with three minutes left.
Thailand scored two more goals, first was late in the third period and second was early in the final quarter to trim the deficit to 6-4, but Cañete powered his way on a two-against-one play and scored his third goal.
The 38-year-old Cañete flexed his muscles after scoring the goal to the delight of a wild cheering Filipino crowd.
Next for the national team is Singapore set Friday night, and the task for the Filipinos is not just to beat the defending SEA Games champion, but also to win by more than three goals.
“We need to win by three goals or more against Singapore,” said Galang, who is being assisted by former national team stalwart Dale Evangelista in this Games the country is hosting for the fourth time and first in 14 years or in 2005.
“That’s what we need to do to move closer to our goal of winning our first gold medal… It’s a tough task, but it’s doable. They’re coming off a loss, momentum is on our side after a win, we have to take advantage of that.”
“Again, we just have to execute our plays against Singapore. Our overall team defense is ok. But on offense, we have to continue executing plays, which again in this game, we didn’t do in the first period,” added Galang.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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