Cobra-PAL dragon boat team targets world crown

MANILA, Philippines - With a complete lineup, the Cobra-PAL Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) team believes it can beat the world’s best when the World Dragon Boat Cup is held in Fushan, China next year.

“We finished second last year so we’re now going for first place in the World Cup,” said PDBF president Marcia Cristobal in yesterday’s briefing at the Philippine Airlines’ office along Macapagal Ave. in Pasay.

The team recently arrived from Canada where they defied the odds and racked up four gold medals, including the 200m and 500m mixed categories for small boat events.

The Filipino paddlers also ruled the 500m premier mixed event where they beat teams from Macau, Hungary, Italy and Puerto Rico.

They also copped the senior A mixed crown to cap their campaign hampered by the absence of some members due to visa problems.

The team initially targeted three golds but ended up with four.

“The team showed a lot of pride and we salute all of them,” said Asia Brewery executive Mike Ngo, who was accompanied in the briefing by Cobra’s Jen Inumerable and Dan Ong and PAL’s Rhea Domingo, Cielo Villalon and Pinky Custodio.

 “It’s truly a proud experience because we competed undermanned and yet our team delivered,” said Cristobal.