By Waylon Galvez
The national team formalized its claim on the silver medal following a 14-11 win against Malaysia in water polo in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Sunday night at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Tarlac.
The Philippine men’s water polo team, bannering the country’s flag, celebrates after a draw match against Singapore in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the New Clark City in Tarlac. The national team secures a podium finish. (MB Photo / Mark Balmores)
In a game that felt like a championship match, the Filipinos came back from a 6-5 deficit against a Malaysian side determined to score a win after falling short in its first four games.
With attacks coming from nearly every player of the team led by veteran member Roy Cañete and with longtime goalie Tani Gomez anchoring the defensive end, the squad outscored the opposition 9-5 in the second half.
The effort of the Nationals rewarded them a fourth silver medal – a first for the Nationals after their last podium finish in 2009. The national team also pocketed the same medal of color in 2005 when the Philippines last hosted the SEA Games and in 2007.
“All the hard work of this team, and the players the last eight, nine years, all of it were finally rewarded with this accomplishment. The sacrifices were all worth it,” said coach Rey Galang, who has former national team star Dale Evangelista as part of his coaching staff.
Gomez, who was part of the teams that won silver medals from 2005 to 2009, considers this a huge achievement considering the things they have to go through the past eight years.
After the Filipinos failed to make the podium in 2011 SEA Games, the national team decided to restart the program by tapping new talents.
“Talagang nag-start sa baba yung team after nung 2011 SEA Games,” said Gomez, pointing to the hard times the team experienced including their non-participation in 2013 biennial meet.
The national team returned to the SEA Games in 2015 and placed fifth overall, and two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, the squad placed fifth overall, missing the podium with a close loss to host Malaysia.
“Lahat talaga nakukuha sa tiyaga, and siyempre trabaho ng mabuti. Ito ang pinagtuunan talaga ng team, kaya nasuklian naman. Eto na, silver medal, back at the podium tayo,” said Gomez.
Aside from Gomez and Cañete, other members of the national team are Mummar Alamara, Mico Anota, Adan Gonzales, Matthew Yu, Macgyver Reyes, Mark Valdez, Aljon Salonga, Romark Belo, Paolo Serrano, Abnel Amiladjid, and Fil-Am Vince Sicat.
The national team had a shot at the gold medal, but its 6-6 draw to Singapore allowed Indonesia to win the elusive title, ending the 27-SEAG reign of Singapore, which ruled the sport since its debut in the 1965 SEA Games in KL.
Singapore settled for the bronze medal after beating Thailand.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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