By Nick Giongco
CAPAS, Tarlac—The Philippines’ gold medal assembly line remained in operations Monday with a bevy of sports, including athletics and boxing, recipients of these coveted symbols of excellence in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Philippines’ Clinton Kingsley Bautista celebrates after crossing the finish line of the men’s 110m hurdles to bag the gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Tarlac, Dec. 9, 2019. (MB Photo / Mark Balmores / Sony A9)
As of 8:45 pm, the host country had a tally of 135-102-105 (gold-silver-bronze) with another massive haul of 23 gold medals, way ahead of Thailand (83-90-101), which suddenly soared to second ahead of now third-placer Vietnam (79-78-93). Making up the top five are Indonesia (69-76-102) and Malaysia (51-51-102).
Athletics, which initially predicted a modest goal of 5-6 gold medals, has gone beyond its target as those who weren’t even expected to deliver came up with eye-popping performances.
Clinton Kingsley Bautista ran the 110-meter hurdles a shade under 14 seconds for the first time to win the gold while Melvin Calanog topped the javelin to keep abreast with the other top performers such as marathoner Christine Hallasgo, pole vaulters EJ OBiena and Natalie Uy, heptathlete Sarah Dequinan, shotputter William Morrison, sprinter Kristina Knott and the mixed 4×100 relay squad.
The Tagalog-speaking Bautista, 27, swears he was energized by the crowd at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium, adding many of his relatives made the trip to the venue from neighboring Camiling town.
Rogen Ladon celebrates after beating Ammarit Yaodam of Thailand in the flyweight final of boxing competition in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the PICC Forum, Dec. 9, 2019. (MB Photo / Ali Vicoy)
It was a memorable win for Bautista, whose showing upstaged defending champion Rayzam Shah of Malaysia by clocking 13.97 in a photo finish.
“I was just focused and I wanted my time to clock 13 seconds,” said Bautista, whose previous best was 14.
Boxing went seven-of-ten in the finals with veterans, flyweight Rogen Ladon, lightweight Charly Suarez and middleweight Eumir Marcial leading the way.
Other gold medalists include light-flyweight Carlo Paalam and light-welter James Palicte in the men’s and fly Josie Gabuco and world champion Nesthy Petecio in the featherweight ranks.
Those who settled for silver were welter Marlon Pianar in the men’s and fly Irish Magno and lightweight Riza Pasuit while the bronze medalists were bantams Ian Clark Bautista and Aira Villegas.
Fil-British lightheavy John Marvin, the defending champion, was sent packing in his opening bout.
Jamie Christine Lim, daughter of basketball great Samboy Lim, celebrates after defeating Indonesia’s Ceyco Zefanya to bag the gold medal in women’s +61kg kumite event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at World Trace Center, Dec. 9, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Leonelle Deluvio / Canon 1DX Mark II with 70-200mm f2.8 lens)
There were also shining moments on other fronts with karatedo producing a dramatic gold from Jamie Christine Lim, the daughter of former basketball star Samboy Lim, jujitsu parading the trio of Meggie Ochoa, Dean Roxas and Carlo Pena and wrestling boasting of Jason Baucas and Noel Norada.
Other contributors to the bulging basket of gold medals include Dennis Orcollo in 10-ball billiards, Kurt Barbosa in taekwondo, Kerry Olsim in kickboxing, the squash mixed team, Geylord Coveta and Yancy Kaigiban in windsurfing, sailing keelboat match racing and the archery mixed compound team.
Competitions will continue Tuesday before the 2019 sportsfest formally ends Wednesday night with a spectacular show of lights and sound.
The Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi will hold the 2021 edition.
Source: Manila Bulletin
Xtra Sports ph 