By Nick Giongco
John Chicano, left, and Kim Mangrobang gun for the country’s first gold medal when they compete in triathlon early Sunday. (File Photo)
CLARKFIELD, Pampanga – Unless they step on a banana peel on the way to the finish, the country’s top bets in triathlon are earning the distinction of producing the host country’s first gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Defending champion Kim Mangrobang and John Rambo Chicano, are poised to rule their respective events during the morning sessions in Subic, Zambales.
Actually, Chicano will be the first to take the plunge in the swim-bike-run event at 6 a.m. Mangrobang will get her turn at 8 a.m. as the Philippines puts its bid to win the overall crown in motion.
The triathlon medals that will be given away on the first day of competitions would be the first few from the 530 up for grabs in the 11-day event featuring 56 sports.
Mangrobang is also being paired with Fil-foreign bet Kim Kilgroe in what will likely end up as a 1-2 finish for the Philippines after pulling off the same feat two years ago in Kuala Lumpur with Maria Claire Adorna.
As for Chicano, he will have fast-rising Cebuano Kim Remolino as partner as they attempt to take the first two spots.
In Malaysia, Chicano settled for silver behind Nikko Huelgas.
Chicano insists that there is only one color that he wants to grab as he relish representing the country once more.
“Syempre andoon pa rin ‘yung mindset na goal natin maka-gold para sa Philippines,” said Chicano. “Doon lang kami nakatingin ngayon.”
“Yung feeling na nire-represent mo ‘yung bansa sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam lalong lalo na kung nananalo ka para sa bayan mo.”
Still, Chicano remains wary of rivals from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.
“Andyan pa rin ‘yung Singapore eh, malakas pa rin ‘yung lineup nila ngayon eh. Tinitignan din namin ‘yung Malaysia and Vietnam kasi malakas daw ‘yung swimmer nila so tingnan natin,” he said.
But Chicano swears he is not even thinking about settling for scraps.
“Pero gold pa rin ang target natin,” he said.
While triathlon earns the distinction of flagging off the competition proper of the SEAG, the Philippine campaign will go full blast on other fronts.
Arnis, the national martial art, will be dangling eight gold medals when action gets going at the Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City.
After the morning eliminations, the finals will be played in the afternoon and the Philippines and Vietnam are solid picks to figure in the gold medal matches.
Weightlifting, popularized by the silver medal finish of Hidilyn Diaz in the 2016 Rio Olympics, also starts Sunday at the newly-renovated Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila with Mary Flor Diaz, cousin of the Olympic runnerup, competing in the 45 kg women’s class.
The national team is aiming to win five golds with the Diaz’s leading the women’s charge and making up the solid cast are Elien Rose Perez (49kg), Margaret Colonia (59kg), Elreen Ann Ando (64) and Kristel Macrohon (71kg) in the women’s category.
Veteran Nestor Colonia is the men’s top bet. John Fabuar Ceniza (55kg) and Dave Llyod Pacaldo (61kg) make up the squad.
Ten gold medals are at stake in weightlifting but the Philippines will campaign in nine.
Over in Laurel, Batangas, the men and women’s cross-country mountain bike also gets rolling.
The Filipinos are also making their move on opening day in danceport, kurash, lawn bowls, windsurfing, sailing, sepak takraw, shooting and wushu aside from on-going bids in football and water polo.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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