By Jonas Terrado
The Philippines opened defense of its men’s ice hockey gold in style with a 15-1 thumping of Malaysia Sunday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Skating Rink.
Members of the Philippine ice hockey team celebrate after Sunday’s 15-1 win over Malaysia to open their SEA Games campaign at the SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink. (Jonas Terrado)
Team captain Steven Fuglister and Eishner Jigsmac Sibug each scored a hat trick as the team dubbed as the Eagles capitalized on the home-ice advantage to start their campaign on a bright note.
Carl Montano, BJ Imperial and Lenard Lancero had two goals apiece to also key the Philippines’ victory.
Fuglister, Jan Aro Regencia and Samuel James Bengzon also contributed three assists each to cap off the win fashioned out before supporters within the local ice hockey scene.
“It’s a relief that we had a good start in this tournament,” said Fuglister, whose team is aiming for a repeat of its victory two years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
“But I think we have to stay humble and recognize that it is just the first step for us to make it to the finals,” he added.
Thailand made its intention known of dethroning the Philippines earlier with a 14-0 blanking of Indonesia.
Montano scored twice in the first period to put the Eagles ahead 4-0 before Fuglister made it 5-0, just 12 seconds into the second period.
Chee Ming Bryan Lim put Malaysia on the board, 15:51 remaining in the same period, but Imperial, Sibug, Jann Gefrey So Tiong, Richmond Yu and Sibug scored in succession to make it 10-1 Philippines going into the second intermission.
It took a while before the Eagles scored the last five goals courtesy of Carlo Martin Tenedero, Fuglister, Lancero, Imperial and Sibug.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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