SEAG welcomes Team Philippines; sepak bets take silver

KUALA LUMPUR – The national sepak takraw team delivered the first medal for the Philippines, a silver that could be a virtual “silver lining” for Filipino athletes in the face of fierce regional rivals three days before  the 29th Southeast Games unfolds here.

The sepak takraw athletes won the silver on the day the Philippine delegation was officially recognized  in simple flag-raising rites at the sprawling Kuala Lumpur Sports City here yesterday.

The Filipinos put on display their long training in Myanmar and Dipolog City, scoring 271 points to finish behind the hosts, who ran away with the gold with 391 points, in the men’s chin lone linking event 3 at Stadium Titiwangsa.

“Chin lone is a subjective sport so it’s really difficult to beat the host country,” said Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association president Karen Tanchangco, whose wards made it to the finals after besting Brunei, 293-157.

Members of the squad were John-John Bobier, Rhemwil Catana, Emmanuel Escote, Ronsited Gabayeron, Joeart Jumawan, John Carlo Lee, John Jeffrey Morcillos, Regie Pabriga and Alvin Pangan.

Archery also produced an early medal for Team Phl with Paul dela Cruz nipping Zulfadhli Ruslan, 10-9, in sudden-death, shoot-off to salvage the bronze in the men’s individual archery compound event at the Synthetic Turf Field inside the KL Sports City in Bukit Jalil.

After 50 arrows, Dela Cruz and Ruslan, a silver medalist in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, were deadlocked at 144, setting the stage for the single-arrow shoot-off.

Picked to shoot first, Dela Cruz calmly shot a 10 while his Malaysian rival could only muster a 9 to clinch his first SEA Games individual bronze medal after sharing the team bronze honors in the Singapore SEA Games two years ago.

Amaya Paz-Cojuangco, a two-time women’s individual compound SEA Games champ, struggled and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

Also emerging victorious were the national men’s and women’s football squads.

The Philippine men’s U22 squad exacted revenge on Cambodia, 2-0, while the women’s squad shocked the host country, 2-1, to kick off their respective bids on a sizzling note.

The victories in sepak takraw, archery and football more than made up for the heart-breaking 7-8 loss by the Filipinos to the Malaysians in water polo.

Meanwhile, 30 representatives from the national contingent composed of medical, secretariat and a handful of athletes graced the flag-raising rites in the biennial meet staged to promote camaraderie and cooperation among 11 Southeast Asian countries.

National squad administrator Rowena Eustuya represented chief of mission Cynthia Carrion while Philippine Olympic Committee executive assistant Gina Calaguas attended in behalf of POC president Jose Cojuangco.

Also present were Philippine embassy officials headed by Consul Johann Veronica Andal, who represented Ambassador Charles Jose and attaché Emryss Esparto.