By Nick Giongco

CAPAS, Tarlac—Host Philippines kept its foot on the gas pedal Tuesday even it had already ran away with the overall crown as early as three days ago in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.

Basketball, athletics, kickboxing and jiujitsu added two gold medals each while shooting, soft tennis, E-Sports and billiards chipped in one apiece for a total of 12 during the penultimate of competitions.

Basketball, men and women’s completed a sweep with the Gilas men’s slamming Thailand, 115-81, and the underrated women’s team, shocking perennial titlist Thailand, 91-71.

Before Gilas’ trouble-free trip to the top, the Philippines continued to raise the gold medal output even further.

As of 10:30 pm of Tuesday, the Philippines remained entrenched on top with a tally of 149-117-119 while Vietnam is a distant second with a 96-85-104 tally and Thailand at third with an output of 92-102-122.

Indonesia (72-83-111) and Malaysia (55-58-71) make up the top five.

Athletics showcased sprinter Eric Cray in the 400 hurdles and strongman Aries Toledo in decathlon while jiujitsu’s double victory were provided by Adrian Guggenheim in the 77 kg and Annie Ramirez’s own show in the under 55 kg as jujitsu nailed its third gold after Meggie Ochoa’s conquest in the under 45 kg. the day before.

It was the Fil-Am Cray’s fourth straight crown in the 400 hurdles.

Kickboxing equaled the output of the two marquee sports with Jean Claude Saclag winning in the low kick striking gold in the 63.5 kg and Gina Iniong doing the same thing in the 55 kg kick light.

The shooting trio of Eric Ang, Carlos Carag and Hagen Topacio ruled the trap and soft tennis likewise winning in the men’s team event.

Later in the day, Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit ruled the 9-ball doubles and E-Sports unveiled another master gamer in Cav Acampado, who bagged the gold in Starcraft II after downing Thomas Maria Kopankiewicz of Singapore, 4-1.

To reward the winners, the government, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), announced that additional cash incentives would be given by President Duterte to the SEAG standouts.

Aside from the standard P300,000 (gold), P150,000 (silver) and P60,000 (bronze) under RA 10699, an additional P250,000 will be given to the gold winner, P150,000 for silver and P100,000 for bronze.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino also pledged P300,000 each for every gold won.

The courtesy call at Malacanang happens on Dec. 18, according to PSC chairman and chief of mission Butch Ramirez.

“We were all hoping and praying for this, but it is still a sweet surprise now that it is actually happening. I am so proud of our athletes. All of them deserve our respect and love,” said Ramirez, who, incidentally, was also the PSC chief and CDM when the country hosted the 2005 edition when the Philippines likewise took the overall title.

Meanwhile, the closing rites will be held Wednesday night at the NCC Athletics Stadium with Phisgoc head Alan Peter Cayetano and Tolentino delivering speeches on a night that will feature world-class entertainment from performers with strong Pampanga roots.

It will also be highlighted by the official turnover of the SEAG Federation Council flag to Vietnam, the host of the 2021 SEAG.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Mission accomplished for Gilas Pilipinas.

The best of Philippine basketball delivered what was expected of them as the Filipinos produced a dominant performance to score a 115-81 win over Thailand in the gold medal match of men’s basketball in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The national team, composed of PBA players, used a big third quarter when it outscored Thailand 40-15. That turned a 48-39 lead through two quarters to a comfortable 88-54 advantage going to the final frame.

June Mar Fajardo, a five-time PBA Most Valuable Player, proved he isn’t just a dominant force in the country’s pro league but in the region as he finished with a double-double 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Christian Standhardinger also had a solid outing with 16 points and 11 boards, while LA Tenorio added 16 points, Matthew Wright and Vic Manuel contributed 14 points apiece, and Stanley Pringle had 13 points.

The gold medal count for the Philippines improved to 18 overall – the best in 20 editions of the biennial meet.

“It’s incredibly special,” said Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone, who owns the PBA record for most titles with 21 – including two Grand Slam titles – but ranks this feat the best in his 30-year coaching career.

“I’ve won a few championships in the PBA but this is on top,” added Cone, who earned a bronze medal with a similar PBA-backed Centennial Team during the 1998 Asian Games in Thailand.

The gold medal was likewise historic for Kiefer Ravena – a late addition after ace guard Jayson Castro suffered a foot injury – as he now owns the record of five in the SEA Games. He finished with 10 points.

“Of course it’s always special to win a gold medal for the country,” said Ravena, whose other stint with the national team in the SEA Games were in 2011 in Jakarta, 2013 in Myanmar, 2015 in Singapore and 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.

Troy Rosario won his third SEA Games gold medal following his stints in 2015 and 2017, while Standhardinger now has two after he played in 2017, and 7-foot center Greg Slaughter earned his second as he was part of the 2011 squad.

For the remaining eight, however, this is their first gold medal in the SEA Games.

“This is memorable for me kasi first time ko maka-laro sa SEA Games, and nakuha natin ang gold medal,” said Tenorio, who won a gold medal in the Jones Cup and a silver medal in the FIBA-Asia Championship both in 2014 together with Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar.

Also winning their first SEA Games gold medal were Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, Manuel, Pringle, Fajardo, Aguilar and Wright.

It was a tight first half as the Philippines took a 48-39 advantage after Tyler Lamb connected a three-point shot but Pringle beat the buzzer with a jump shot to end the second quarter.

In the first period, the national team had a 25-19 edge but back-to-back triples by Ravena and Tenorio gave the Filipinos a 31-19 lead. Thailand countered with an 11-4 run that trimmed the deficit to 35-30.

It was a double victory for Gilas Pilipinas as the women’s national team made history by winning its first gold medal in the SEA Games following a 91-71 victory over Thailand.

Overall, the Philippines had a clean sweep of all the basketball events as both the men’s and women’s teams triumphed in the 3×3 action – a first in the SEA Games – last week.

In the bronze medal match, Vietnam stunned Indonesia – silver medalist in the previous SEA Games – with an 86-71 victory for its first podium finish in basketball event in the biennial meet.

Dang Khoa Tran fired 21 points to lead Vietnam, Christopher Dierker added 18 points, while Justin Young had double-double 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Than Tram Dinh contributed 15 points.

Scores:

First Game

VIETNAM 86 – Tran 21, Dierker 18, Young 15, Dinh T.T. 15, Dinh T.S. 11, Nguyen T. 4, Le 2, Du 0, Vo 0, Hoang 0, Nguyen H. 0.

INDONESIA 71 – Oei 17, Grahita 16, Dhyaksa 16, Gemilang 13, Kokodiputra 5, Kokasih 2, Joni 2, lakuda 0, Sitorus 0, Seputra 0, Wicaksono 0.

Quarters: 17-19; 41-34; 67-54; 86-71.

Second Game

PHILIPPINES 115 – Fajardo 17, Standhardinger 16, Tenborio 16, Wright 14, Manuel 14, Pringle 13, Ravena 10, Ross 8, Lassiter 3, Rosario 2, Aguilae 2, Slaughter 0.

THAILAND 81 – Lamb 33, Jakrawan 15, Sutitisinb 7, Leelapipatkul 7, Jaisanuk 6, Chanthacon 6, Muangboon 3, Langsui 1, Klahan 1, Apiromvilaichai 0, Ananti 0.

Quarters: 25-17; 48-39; 88-54; 115-81.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Betheena Unite

The Philippine men’s volleyball team settled for silver after bowing down to Indonesia in three straight sets 25-21, 27-25, 25-17 Tuesday in the gold medal match of volleyball competition in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The nationals tried to keep up with the attacks and defense of the winningest team in the region by keeping the first two sets close but the Indonesians were too much for the Filipinos.

Indonesia’s early 5-0 run, catching the nationals off guard, became a preview of how they will defeat the home team in front of 6,500 spectators.

Down two sets, the Philippines could only rely on scattered scoring from their top gunners as Indonesia pulled away 22-14 and never looked back.

Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas with 15 and 11 points, respectively, still delivered the goods for the Philippines but lost steam against their nemesis.

Despite the loss, the nationals said winning the silver felt like winning the gold.

“Masasabi namin na sobrang tamis kahit hindi namin nakuha yung gold medal dahil siguro ito na yung binigay ni God sa’min na mas mataas pa doon sa ine-expect namin na makukuha namin ngayon,” skipper John Vic de Guzman said. “Siguro ang mas masarap sa pakiramdam is yung suporta ng lahat ng Pilipino.”

For Espejo, who led the team with 14 attacks and 16 receptions, Indonesia capitalized on height advantage and experience.

“Yung Indonesia talaga ang ginamit nila height and power and siguro mas lamang sila sa experience pero yun nga masaya pa rin kami even though natalo kami, alam namin sa sarili namin na ginawa namin yung best namin pero hanggang dito lang talaga yung kinaya namin,” Espejo said.

“Para sa akin panalo pa rin yung men’s volleyball team kasi ang layo na ng narating ng men’s volleyball team dito sa Pilipinas. Nagsimula kami sa UAAP na bilang mo lang yung mga tao… I hope we became instruments to inspire the younger generation para umangat yung men’s volleyball dito sa Pilipinas,” middle blocker Rex Intal, who tallied for nine points, said.

Doni Haryono and Rivan Nurmuluki paced the Indonesians with 20 and 17 points markers.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno blanked Indonesia’s Fathrah Masum and Nony Andilah 7-0 to win the women’s 9-ball doubles gold in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Tuesday at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel.

After splitting their two all-Filipino showdowns in 10-ball and 9-ball singles, Amit and Centeno joined forces to hardly give their Indonesian counterparts a chance and end their campaign in the biennial meet with two golds apiece.

Their victory gave the Philippines four golds in billiard sports at the conclusion of these Games.

Centeno claimed the women’s 10-ball singles gold 7-3 over Amit before the latter turned the tables by taking the women’s 9-ball singles via the same score.

The other gold came from veteran Dennis Orcollo, who ruled the men’s 10-ball singles after edging Vietnam’s The Kien Do 9-8 last Monday.

Aside from Orcollo, the men’s team struggled to produce medals with the men’s snookers duo of Alvin Barbero and Jeffrey Roda settling for silver.

Five bronzes were all claimed by the men’s side after semifinal defeats by the great Efren “Bata” Reyes (carom) and the tandems of Carlo Biado-Johann Chua and Warren Kiamco-Jeffrey Ignacio (9-ball doubles).

Other bronze medalists were Roda (snooker singles) and Francisco dela Cruz (carom).

Centeno produced her best SEA Games performance ever with her two golds and one silver while Amit achieved her first double gold since the 2009 Games in Vientiane.

The twice wins also gave Amit eight SEAG golds, the most by any female cue artist in the regional sports spectacle.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

The Philippines’ long and arduous wait for a first-ever gold in women’s basketball of the Southeast Asian Games came to an end Tuesday after dominating perennial contender Thailand 91-71 in front of a big crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Behind Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin and Khate Castillo, the team known as Gilas Pilipinas Women relied on a big third quarter assault to bury decades of disappointing finishes in the biennial meet.

Animam, who last month suffered a orbital fracture while playing in the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in New Zealand, scored 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting while Bernardino produced 10 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and two blocks as the two played the starring roles in the historic feat.

Pontejos and Castillo each made three triples to finish with 16 and 11 points while Cabinbin scored five of her seven in the third that saw Gilas pulling away after a 45-43 halftime lead.

Coach Pat Aquino and his team celebrated as it was already Christmas after clinching the gold via a three-game sweep of the four-team tournament.

The national cagebelles had to beat the podium finishers of the previous SEA Games on their way to the gold.

They overcame second half deficits to beat Indonesia 63-56 and deposed two-time champion Malaysia 81-75 before getting their acts together after squandering a 11-point first half lead to frustrate the Thais.

“Indonesia has always ruined our plans but what I’ve said the last time pag natalo natin Indonesia tingin ko dire-diretso na to. I think that’s the difference,” said Aquino, who fell short of steering the team to a medal in his first two stints as national coach in 2015 and 2017.

“Even though that we know that Malaysia is the defending champion and Thailand is always been there, sabi namin na we have to keep working hard and we’ll make it,” he added.

The Philippines completed a women’s basketball double in these Games after Animam, Bernardino, Pontejos and Clare Castro claimed gold in the inaugural 3×3 tournament.

Tiffany Bias, who plays for the New York Liberty in the WNBA, scored 15 points while Supavadee Kunchan posted 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals but the Thais were denied of their first gold since the 2013 Nay Pyi Taw edition.

Pontejos scored 11 in the first as the Philippines led 18-7 at the start. But the Thais eventually tied the score at 41-all Bias and Kunchuan leading the way.

Animam scored six points to begin the third, Pontejos and Cabinbin made baskets while Bernardino stayed active on both ends to put the Philippines ahead 64-48 late in the period.

Scores:

PHILIPPINES 91 — Animam 21, Pontejos 16, Hayes 11, Castillo 11, Bernardino 10, Cabinbin 7, Jose 6, Nabalan 5, Prado 2, Castro 2, Tongco 0, Chan 0.

THAILAND 71 — Bias 15, Kunchuan 12, Udomsuk 12, Yothanan 10, Kaichaiyapoom 5, Maihom 4, Supyen 3, Buapa 3, Klunbut 2, Phromrat 2, Sangmanee 0.

Quarters: 27-20; 45-43; 68-52; 91-71.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

Gina Iniong and Jean Claude Saclag overpowered their rivals on Tuesday as the Philippine kickboxing team finished its 30th Southeast Asian Games campaign with three gold medals at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Iniong, a wushu and mixed martial arts champion, added another title in her growing resume by ruling the women’s -55kg kick light division at the expense of Thailand’s Apichaya Mingkwan, 3-0.

The 29-year-old Benguet native banked on her boxing skills to attack her opponent from the start and never wavered.

“Game plan po talaga namin is sugurin siya kasi taekwondo (specialist) siya eh. Inabangan ko lang na makapasok ako,” said Iniong.

Saclag took the podium a few hours later, pouncing on Malaysia’s Mohammed Mahmoud in the men’s 63.5kg full contact to prevail, 3-0.

Saclag, a wushu silver medalist at the 2014 Asian Games, was aggressive throughout and leaned on his speed to outlast his rival.

“Di ko in-expect na madali para sa akin kasi alam kong hindi siya basta-basta nasasaktan. Pero nakita ko na madali na siyang mapagod kaya inunahan ko na,” the 25-year-old Kalinga native said.

Jerry Olsim won the country’s first SEAG gold in the sport on Tuesday in the men’s -69kg kick light division.

The PH team also claimed two silvers courtesy of Jomar Balangui and Renalyn Dacquel, and one bronze from Karl Manguide.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

CAPAS, Tarlac—Fil-Am Eric Cray captured his fourth straight title in his favorite 400-meter hurdles Tuesday in a fiery windup to the athletics competitions in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Cray, 31, took the lead in the last 100 meters and clocked 50.21 seconds, relegating his Indonesian rival (50.81) to silver and the Vietnamese bet (52.30) to second and third, respectively.

It was Cray’s fourth straight in his pet event dating back to the 2013 Naypidaw SEAG where he first took the 400 hurdles. In Singapore two years later, he also triumphed.

Cray ran the 400 hurdles in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 and won it again.

“I think it speaks of my longevity,” said Cray, who was born in Olongapo, Zambales.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Erma Edera

For the fourth straight year, the Philippines emerged victorious in the men’s poomsae team event. Through winning the historic four-peat victory, brothers Dustin Jacob and Raphael Enrico Mella have been at the forefront of the country’s win.

Buoyed by the cheering home crowd, the Mella brothers and individual gold champion Rodolfo Reyes Jr. delivered a flawless performance and successfully defended their poomsae crown after securing a total of 8.483 points during the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Saturday.

Dustin Jacob Mella, 24-year-old jin, said their bond as a team was their advantage.

“Of course being a team. you have a certain camaraderie and iba yung teamwork. And Jr. being with us for so long, parang adopted brother na rin namin, we worked that way that’s why advantage for us yung friendship namin, yung bond namin outside of the competition,” Dustin told the Manila Bulletin.

“The key is humility, being open to each other, we are together not against each other; we all have our different strengths. Jr. is a high kicker, I have power, Rico has balance in terms of skills but we all complement each other and at the end of the day we just have to talk on how we improve together.”

Dustin also bared that the crowd’s rallying cry all throughout the taekwondo competition was crucial in winning their fourth gold medal.

“Wwhen we are here, kapag sumuntok ka, kapag sumipa ka, they’re cheering for us kaya parang na-attract kami pa na itaas kaya times two yung performance namin because of that,” he said.

Reyes, who delivered the first Philippine gold, said do on Saturday, said their training is a continuous process.

“Pahirap nang pahirap every year kasi kailangan namin mahigitan yung nasimulan namin kaya every training talagang we work hard,” he said.

Dustin said maintaining their place in the region is difficult.

echoed Reyes but he said that he was grateful after they dominate the competition.

“It’s hard to stay on top,” he said. “Other countries, other teams try to beat us.”

Raphael Enrico, a year younger than Dustin, shared that his brother is one of his biggest inspirations.

 

The trio are setting their sights on bigger challenges ahead after their victory.

“Next year, we have our world championship, so we are preparing for that,” Dustin said.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Betheena Unite

Commitment and exposure remain the most crucial factors in forming a top caliber national team that can go up against international counterparts in sports events like the Southeast Asian Games.

Coach Shaq Delos Santos, who mentors the Philippine women’s volleyball team, believes that commitment and international exposure have been lacking for the women’s national team after they fell short in their goal for a podium finish in the SEA Games.

“Una yung commitment ng lahat, oo sabihin natin, naglaro ng Asian Games, right after ng Asian Games, anong nangyari? Una, hindi namin sila kontrolado kasi siyempre kanya kanyang club ‘yan, yun nire-respect namin,” Delos Santos said after losing to Indonesia in five sets in the battle for bronze.

The former national team member pointed out that he could not just ask players to suit up for the national team considering that they also belong to club teams.

“Walang ganyan so kung paano lang siya i-weigh para mag-meet. Yun ang isang pinakamabigat para sa’min, ako hangga’t maari dapat laging buo yung team even nga yung club, e kailangan laging buo ‘yan,” he said.

“Kung sino yung nandiyan, ilalaban namin,” he added, stressing that sustained international experiences for the national team can pave the way for them to finally earn a podium finish in regional meets.

But he was quick to argue that “it’s easier said than done.”

“Hindi siya ganung kadaling gawin dahil sa schedule din ng tournament. Mahirap para sa players, mahirap din para sa amin na buuin yung team. Kaya sinasabi ko na kulang kasi bungi-bungi siya,” the volleyball tactician said.

He also cited other teams in the region like the Indonesia who had been fielding in same faces in their international appearances.

“Ako, to be honest, hindi siya ganun kadali. Lahat ng adjustment namin, lahat ng way para maayos, maging maganda ‘to, pero hindi siya madaling gawin kasi magkaka-conflict,” Delos Santos said, noting that calendars of tournaments in the country and international meets are not in sync.

“Hopefully, mangyari na laging may buo na national team. Hopefully, maayos lahat ng calendar, maging united na lahat. We don’t know kung sino yung next or what pero siympre ako yun lang maging committed lang lahat ng players,” he added.

Despite the loss and a winless stint in the biennial meet, the national team mentor believes they had given their all and fought till the end.

“Ginawa ko naman 100 percent kaya wala akong dapat pagsisihan kung ano man yung naging result kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na ginawa ko yung best ko. Hindi man umayon para sa amin, ganun talaga. Yung mga susunod na puwedeng mag-handle, siyempre suporta kami kasi lahat naman to ginagawa para sa bansa,” Delos Santos said.

“Ako proud ako sa team namin kasi alam naman nila kung ano yung mga pinagdaanan namin. Kaming mga coaches lagi kaming nag-uusap na sobrang laban lang, laban tayo. Yun lang yung kinaya pero thankful pa rin kami sa experience na ‘to.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Erma Edera

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan has congratulated the Philippine Volcanoes after they reclaimed the rugby crown in the 30^th Southeast Asian Games at the Parade Grounds of Clark on Sunday.

“We are proud to have former All Blacks player Frano Botica as coach of the Philippine Volcanoes, alongside David Johnston, the Canadian co-coach,” Strachan said in a statement.

“We look forward to more victories from the Volcanoes in the international arena. The successes at the SEA games will hopefully be a catalyst for the further growth of rugby in this country,” he added.

The Volcanoes blasted defending champion Malaysia 19-0 to capture the gold medal in the men’s category.

This is the second time the Volcanoes defeated the Malaysians in the finals after a 24-7 triumph in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.

It was also redemption for the Volcanoes, who missed the podium after finishing fourth in the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, the Lady Volcanoes settled for silver after losing to Thailand 17-7 in the women’s class of the rugby 7s competition.

Source: Manila Bulletin