By Nick Giongco

CLARKFIELD, Pampanga—Unless host Vietnam takes a page from the Philippines’ book, it doesn’t look as though the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi will feature sports that one usually associates with summertime activities and those seen played in playgrounds.

Vietnam is already working on the staging of its turn to host the biennial sportsfest and latest reports say sports that will be played are those mostly being held in the Olympic Games.

Thirty-six sports have been tagged but there are a few Vietnamese favorites that should make it to the official calendar of events such as shuttlecock (a hybrid of badminton and sepak takraw) and vovinam, Vietnam’s traditional martial arts, and fin swimming.

Traditionally, a host country is given leeway to include obscure sports, a way of enhancing its chances of winning the overall crown.

This year’s edition features 530 events in 56 sports, making the 2019 SEAG the biggest ever.

Conceptualized by Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino, the Philippine hosting has enabled the host to run away with the highest number of gold medals with sports like arnis, danceport, skating, E-Sports and obstacle course, being played.

Tolentino, however, swears it will entail a lot of convincing for these sports to be included in the final roster.

The initial meeting of the 2021 SEAG will take place in March 2020 in the host and capital city of Hanoi, where Sen. Migz Zubiri, who heads arnis, will be attending alongside Tolentino.

“Katatakot-takot na ligawan ito (It’s going to take a lot of persuasive powers to make it happen),” said Tolentino.

Vietnam is the leading challenger to the Philippines’ quest to win the 2019 overall crown.

When it hosted the SEAG for the first time in 2003, it featured 442 events in 32 sports and Vietnam topped the standings with 158 gold medals.

In 2011, when Jakarta-Palembang in Indonesia hosted the SEAG, there were 552 events in 44 sports.

But still, the Philippines’ 56 should remain forever, a number that is not likely to be topped by Vietnam in 2021.

After all, arnis and dancesport accounted for 24 gold medals for the Philippines this year.

Source: Manila Bulletin

CAPAS, Tarlac—The most surprised individual at the end of the women’s marathon in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Friday morning was the winner herself.

Christine Hallasgo, a native of Bukidnon, upstaged the more accomplished Mary Joy Tabal, the Japan-trained Cebu runner picked to win her second straight gold medal.

But Rio Olympian Tabal slowed down in the final stage of the 42.195 race, allowing Hallasgo, a first-timer in the SEAG, to take advantage and rule the event many thought was going to be Tabal’s.

“Talagang hindi ko expected na manalo dito, first time ko po sa SEA Games,” said Hallasgo, stressing that she badly wanted to give host Philippines a great start in the opening of the athletics competitions.

“Talagang pinagbutihan namin para makakuha ng ginto sa opening day. Marami kaming entry sa athletics ayoko na mahuli kami.”

Hallasgo clocked two hours 56 minutes and 56 seconds in topping the event while Tabal, who collapsed at the finish line, submitted a time of 2:58.49.

Unlike Tabal, who spent three months in Yokohama, Hallasgo stayed behind with fellow low-profile national team mainstays in Lingayen, Pangasinan, starting Sept. 1 until they all made the lonely trek here.

In the men’s side, the two Filipino bets—Jerald Zabala and Anthony Nerza—wound up fifth and sixth behind winner Indonesia, second-placer Thailand and third-placer Malaysia.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Kristel Satumbaga

There is no room for rest for world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo after his debut campaign at the 30^th Southeast Asian Games.

The 19-year-old sensation has now set his sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with high hopes of making an impact the way he did at the 49^th FIG Artistic Gymnastic World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany last October.

He didn’t promise any medal, though the Filipinos are hoping that he could end the country’s gold-medal drought in the Olympics.

“Para sa akin po, maibigay lang yung best ko. Gusto ko po yung feeling na pagkatapos ng routine ko, masasabi ko po sa sarili ko na satisfied ako at ginawa ko po ang lahat,” he said.

It was the same mentality that Yulo applied in the world championships, and it worked as he claimed the gold medal in the floor exercise against his veteran counterparts.

Though the worlds was a bigger stage than the SEA Games, Yulo said he was more nervous performing in the biennial meet.

“Mas malala po yung kaba ko dito sa SEA Games. Pero hindi ko rin po in-expect yung mga medals na nakuha ko,” he said.

“Ang gusto ko lang po, maibigay yung best ko sa SEA Games. Gusto ko po na makita nila yung hard work ko. Sobrang saya po na chini-cheer po yung Team Pilipinas lalo na po yung crowd, sobrang ingay po talaga.”

Yulo collected two gold medals in individual all-around and floor exercise, and five silvers in vault, pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars and horizontal bar.

He was graceful in his defeats, as people expected him to sweep his seven events.

“Nakakahinayang pero siguro hindi pa po talaga para sa akin yung mga yun,” he said.

“Hindi naman po palagi panalo, pero hindi rin po palagi talo. Ang mahalaga po tuluy-tuloy lang sa training at pag-improve.”

Yulo is expected to return to Japan for his studies at the Teikyo University and training under long-time Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya.

“We have to be strong, we need to train more for the Olympics,” said Kugimiya.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said they will do their best to give Yulo the training and exposure he needed for his Olympic campaign.

“For now, our only focus is the Olympics,” she said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Betheena Unite

Carrying an untainted record after two outings in the 30^th Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine men’s volleyball team eyes a comparatively easier route to a podium finish as they face 2017 SEA Games silver medalist Indonesia at 6 tonight at the Philsports Arena.

It will be a must-win match for the home team, national coach Dante Alinsunurin said, since a victory over Indonesia will give them a shot at avoiding an early confrontation and powerhouse defending champion Thailand in the semis.

“Una, siyempre kailangan naming makuha talaga (yung panalo against Indonesia) para makaiwas kami sa Thailand,” Alinsunurin said. “Dapat ready kami, dapat A-game talaga sa laro na yun. Hindi dapat kami mag-relax sa sitwasyon.”

The former national team member also said that the international experience of his top gunners Mark Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who led the team in their last two games, will be crucial.

“Sana magtuloy-tuloy lang yung ginagawa nila sa team na walang nagpapataasan at nagtutulungan,” Alinsunurin said.

Local fans, Alinsunurin, are requested to come in droves to provide support.

“Sa mga naniniwala at sumusuporta sa men’s volleyball team at sa lahat ng atletang naglalaro sa SEA Games, maraming maraming salamat po. Ito lang naman yung kailangan ng men’s volleyball team, yung may magtitiwala para maipakita rin namin yung talent naming,” team captain John Vic de Guzman said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Waylon Galvez

Games Friday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

12 noon – Myanmar vs Singapore (M)

2:15 p.m. – Malaysia vs Cambodia (M)

6 p.m. – Thailand vs Indonesia

8:15 p.m. – Philippines vs Vietnam (M)

Gilas Pilipinas guns for its second straight win when it battles Vietnam in the elimination round of the basketball event in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Fresh from a 110-58 rout of Singapore last Wednesday to start its bid for an 18th gold medal in the biennial meet, the national team hopes to keep its fine form versus Vietnam.

The game between the Philippines and Vietnam – bracketed in Group A with Singapore and Myanmar – is set at 8:15 p.m.

Other men’s division games feature Myanmar versus Singapore at 12 noon and Malaysia opposite Cambodia – in Group B with Indonesia and Thailand – at 2:15 p.m.

In the lone women’s game, Indonesia faces Thailand at 6 p.m.

In its encounter against Singapore, the Philippines showed the type of defensive tenacity that Gilas coach Tim Cone wants from his players, and that’s the same thing he expects against Vietnam.

“They’ll be a lot better than Singapore,” said Cone. “We’re expecting a much tougher battle against Vietnam. We think theyre one of the teams to beat out here, so we got to be ready for them.”

Vietnam likewise opened its own campaign with a masterful 131-52 victory over Myanmar with Tam Dinh Thanh and An Du Minh combining for 46 points while forward Phu Vinh Nguyen Huynh had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Troy Rosario led the Nationals with 15 points against Singapore, while Vic Manuel – in his first stint with the national team – and Stanley Pringle contributed 14 points apiece. Matthew Wright added 13 points while June Mar Fajardo – the reigning five-time PBA Most Valuable Player – had 12 points.

Despite the 52-point win on Singapore, Cone said he doesn’t expect the team to be winning by 50-plus points every game. While he knows how deadly the team is on the offensive end, what he wants to see is for the players to work harder on the defensive side.

Against the Singaporeans, Gilas converted nearly 60 percent of its shots while holding the opposing team – with its defensive wall – to below 33 percent shooting from the field.

“I think this team will get better. We’ll become a better team. We’ll be more coordinated defensively,” said Cone. “We know we’re going to be a great offensive team, but the thing we demanded on them is play better on defense.”

“It’s a real honor to coach such a high powered (offensive) team. But we want to make sure that we respect the game, and play right way. No fooling around, we’re not trash talking our opponents.”

In the history of the regional meet, the Philippines ruled the SEA Games basketball event 17 out of 19 times. The only setback came in 1979 and 1989 both against the Malaysians.

The event was not included in 2005, when the country hosted the SEA Games but the local basketball federation was suspended at that time by FIBA, while in 2009, the lack of facility in Laos forced organizers to drop basketball in the calendar of events.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Game Sunday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

6 p.m. — Malaysia vs Philippines

Gilas Pilipinas opened its bid for an elusive gold medal with a 63-56 win over Indonesia in women’s basketball competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Janine Pontejos scored 16 points, Kelly Hayes had 12 points and Jack Animam added nine points and 11 rebounds to power the national cagebelles to victory despite trailing by seven in the third quarter.

Coach Pat Aquino’s team trailed 40-33 almost two minutes into the third but countered with a 12-5 run, capped by a Ria Nabalan triple to head into the payoff period ahead 47-45.

The trio of Pontejos, Animam and Hayes then outscored Indonesia 8-2 to open the fourth for a 55-47 lead.

Gilas is aiming to sweep the four-team, single-round tournament in order to win the country’s first gold in the standard 5-on-5 event.

The Philippines takes a three-day off before returning to action Sunday against defending champion Malaysia, which started its bid for a third straight gold on the wrong foot.

The Malaysians were pounded 70-47 by Thailand in Wednesday’s opener.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Betheena Unite

Coming into the game against powerhouse Thailand, the Philippine women’s volleyball team wanted to leave a mark even sans the win.

And they did.

Thailand, the 2017 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, turned back the gutsy Philippine women’s volleyball in three straight sets 25-16, 25-22, 34-32 Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

But the Nationals made the Thais work for every point, especially in the epic third set where skipper Aby Marano’s team reached set point on several occasions.

The 11-time champion was in full control of the game and was only a point away from making quick work of the Philippine squad, 24-19, but the Filipino volleybelles refused to back down that early.

The Filipinas, who earlier vowed to play their hearts out, made a gallant run to string five straight points to tie the game and threatened to steal the set from Thailand.

It started with a block from Madie Madayag, followed by four kills from Alyssa Valdez and Jovelyn Gonzaga to force a deadlock at 24-all.

Both teams then took turns in scoring but the celebrated Thailand team maintained its dominance and finished the game by catching the Philippines’ defense off guard twice in a row 34-32.

Valdez once again led the Philippines’ rally with 14 points, off 12 attacks and two service aces while Mylene Paat chipped in 11 points.

Majoy Baron and Abigail Maraño had seven points apiece.

Maraño, who after their close match against Vietnam said that they will give the Thais a game to remember, was the happiest for making her promise come true.

“Natuwa ako kasi at least nagdilang anghel ako sa sinabi ko na mabigyan namin sila ng magandang laban kasi start palang ng training namin kahapon at saka kanina, iniisip na namin na kailangan mabigyan talaga namin ng magandang laban yung Thailand para hindi naman kami bugbog-sarado sa kanila,” she said after the game that lasted for almost two hours.

The Philippine national team mainstay said the hard-fought third set was a testament of their improvement as a team which could barely keep up with Thailand in the past years.

“Since 2015, talagang halos parang hindi kami maka-block, hindi kami makahawak ng bola nila. Parang pinaglalaruan kami, parang hindi kami marunong maglaro ng volleyball. Ganun yung feeling. Ginagawa kaming parang hindi volleyball player nung nagsisimula kami,” she said.

“Pero ngayon napakalaki na ng naitakbo ng volleyball sa Pilipinas,” she added.

National team head coach Shaq delos Santos was equally happy with his team’s showing.

“Siyempre sobrang nakaka-proud kasi like nung every huddle namin pinag-uusapan namin na maglaro lang kayo i-enjoy natin at ibigay yung 100 percent kasi wala namang mawawala e,” Delos Santos said.

Thailand volleyball superstar Pleumjit Thinkaow did not have to enter the game as Pimpichaya Kokram and Wilavan Apinyapong delivered the goods for the world-class team with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco

CLARKFIELD, Pampanga—The Philippines made a major push during the second half of Thursday with combat sports judo and sambo and skating bulking up the hosts’ medal tally in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The Fil-Jap tandem of Shugen Nakano and Kiyomi Watanabe and sambists Mark Striegl and Chino Sy and skateboarders Marge Didal and Daniel Ledermann accounted for six of nine gold medals won on a day that started rather slow.

In the AM session, only cyclist Jermyn Prado struck and she did it in the individual time trial.

But just before sundown, it began to rain medals, gold, specifically, when fencer Jylyn Nicanor and the pair of Princess Arbilon and Samuel German in modern pentathlon joined the fray.

As of 10 pm, the Philippines was lording over the rest the pack with a haul of 65-45-34, still way ahead of Vietnam, which is slowly gaining a foothold with 31-35-41. At third is Indonesia with a 27-36-39 collection while rounding off the top five are Singapore and Malaysia.

Nakano turned back B. Prasetui of Indonesia for the 66 kg gold while Watanabe downed Malaysian Nik Norbaizura in the 63 kg.

Watanabe is ranked within the world’s top 25 and her latest conquest was her third straight gold in the regional games.

In sambo, a Russian martial practiced by the military to improve hand-to-hand combat skills, Striegl proved too much for Singapoingh, 8-0, in their 74 kg final bout.

In another finals that featured a Filipino, Sy, a former UAAP juniors judo standout, took care of another Singaporean, Gary Chow Weng Luen, 4-1.

Prado’s morning success came in the women’s individual time trial in Tagaytay where she ruled the 23.1-kilometer event in 44 minutes and 33.742 seconds. It was cycling’s third gold medal following the twin triumph of John Farr and Lea Belgira in mountainbike downhill a few days ago in Laurel, Batangas. Pardo beat Singaporean Yiwei Luo, who clocked 44:48.518 for second and Thai Phetdarin Somrat, who did 44:58.518 for third.

The Philippines started strong in the biennial sportsfest as dancesport and arnis beefed up its early harvest with a combined 24 after just two days of action.

But the tide will start favoring the other nations as medal-rich athletics and swimming start giving away medals.

Swimming, which got going on Wednesday, dangles 40 while athletics is good for 45.

Athletics, meanwhile, will kick off Friday with gold medals at stake in men and women’s marathon.

Defending champion Mary Joy Tabal, who clocked two hours 48 minutes and 26 seconds in Kuala Lumpur, is back to defend her crown after spending three months training in Yokohama.

Tabal’s best time is 2:43.31 and is uncertain if she can match it given that the venue will be the roads of the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Jerald Zabala will be the country’s entry in the men’s division.

Following James Deiparine’s breakthrough victory in the 50-meter breaststroke on Wednesday night at the Aquatics Center, another batch of swimmers took a crack at the gold Thursday but nobody duplicated Deiparine after Jasmine Alkhaldi and Chloe Isleta, Luke Gebby, Thomas Peregrina and Alberto Batungbacal had done.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Joseph Almer Pedrajas

Filipino Rogen Ladon advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 52-kg division by narrowly beating Indonesian Aldoms Suguro Thursday in the boxing competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the PICC Forum.

Though it was a 4-1 deci­sion, the closeness of the fight was reflected in the scores – 29-28, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29.

The Negros Occidental native kept his patience in the first two rounds, stalking his prey and studying his moves before pouring on the heat.

“Matibay ‘yung kala­ban eh. Pinag-aralan muna namin,” said the 26-year-old Ladon. “Hometown natin ‘to. Pakita natin ‘yung galing natin.”

James Palicte, Ian Clark­ Bautista and Eumir Felix Mar­cial, meanwhile, advanced to the semis of their divisions after drawing byes.

Last Wednesday, four Philippine bets scored smash­ing victories and moved on to the semis.

Former world champion Josie Gabuco, Aira Villegas, Irish Magno, and Carlo Paalam won their respective quarter­final matches at the start of the boxing competitions.

Paalam, Villegas and Mag­no won their bouts via shut­outs, with only the 32-year-old Gabuco, winner in the 2012 AIBA World Champion­ship, receiving stiff resistance from Thai opponent Raksat Chuthamat in the women’s light-flyweight division.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Jonas Terrado

Games Sunday
(Rizal Memorial Stadium)
4 p.m. — Philippines vs Myanmar (Bronze)
8 p.m. — Thailand vs Vietnam (Gold)

BINAN, Laguna — The Philippines was relegated to a bronze medal match after suffering a 2-0 defeat to defending champion Vietnam in the women’s semifinals of the 30th Southeast Asian Games held Thursday at the Binan Football Stadium here.

Dreams of a stunning upset disappeared when the Malditas conceded the two goals in the second half to end their gold medal hopes in front of 2,509 fans supporting for both nations.

Thai Thi Tao struck the opener past the hour mark and Nguyen Tuyet Dung produced the insurance goal seven from normal time to seal Vietnam’s ticket to the final against Thailand.

Thailand claimed the other spot in the match for the gold after a 1-0 win over Myanmar at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Coach Let Dimzon’s side will take on Myanmar for a spot in the podium on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial for a chance to give the Philippines its best-ever finish in the biennial meet.

It would be interesting to see how things will translate after the Malditas held Myanmar to a scoreless draw in the tournament opener last Nov. 26 in this city.

But Myanmar may come in determined to erase that shock result and show up like the same team that downed the Philippines 3-0 in the third place in the AFF Women’s Championship earlier this year in Chonburi, Thailand.

Shai del Campo almost scored the equalizer for the Malditas in the 73rd with a header past the keeper but officials ruled that she was offside.

Source: Manila Bulletin