By Betheena Unite
Filipino figure skater Allison Krystle Perticheto kicked off the Philippines’ bid on a high note after emerging at the top of the senior ladies-short program of the Southeast Asian Games Friday.
Filipina Figure skater Alisson Krystle Perticheto, right, tops the Ladies short program with a score of 53.65. (Betheena Unite)
The 22-year-old Perticheto, the 2017 SEA Games bronze medalist, seemed on a mission as she delivered a flawless performance to best contenders in the figure skating short program event with 53.65 points.
“I didn’t think about the ranks but I had a little pressure, you know, to make the Philippines proud but again it’s all about the emotion and keeping myself calm going into my routine today and it works,” the Swiss-Filipina skater said.
“I honestly came here to do my job and to land my jumps and what I learned.”
Topping the short program boosted Perticheto’s bid in the biennial meet as her total points in the event will add to the results in the long program slated on December 1.
“I’m very happy that I land all my jumps and I skate very well and it was a thrill to skate here in the Philippines with the crowd cheering for me and for us,” she said.
Meanwhile, although it was a slow start for Cirinia Gillet, the country’s representative in the senior ladies figure skating who just had 20.90 points in the initial standings, she expressed elation over her first outing for the country.
“I’m pretty happy as to my first international competition in singles and I’m battling an injury right now so I can only ask so much of myself, but I’m happy,” Gillet said.
It was also a good start for the men’s figure skating as Filipino skaters Christopher Caluza and Edrian Paul Celestino finished at the second and third spots in the short program behind Malaysia’s Julian Zhie Jie Yee, who scored 63.35 points.
Caluza was a point shy of Yee’s score with 62.37 points while Celestino finished with 61.52 points.
Going into the next events Sunday, Caluza said he just wants to do his job. “For me, I just do my job, that’s my edge. It’s just knowing that I can do what I do and I am consistent skater and I’m just there to have a fun time.”
“I’m just here to have a fun, clean program. That’s my goal,” he added.
Celestino, for his part, said, “I expect a good performance in terms of emotions and how I express myself. In terms of my edge against other competitors, it will be my consistency as well and just keeping my composure.”
Caluza said their second and third finish in the short program is a boost for the next program.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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