Golden sweep

Huelgas, Mangrobang key Phl 1-2 finish in men’s, women’s triathlon

KUALA LUMPUR –Filipino triathletes booked a place in Southeast Asian Games history by claiming a rare feat they amazingly duplicated moments later.

They went gold-for-gold and silver-for-silver in an overkill in triathlon, pulling off 1-2 finishes in the men’s and women’s divisions that fuelled the Philippines’ campaign in the  biennial meet here.

Nikko Huelgas and Marion Kim Mangrobang sparked a sweep by beating compatriots John Chicano and Claire Adorna , respectively, underscoring Team Phl’s domination of this event at the Putra Jaya Watersports Complex, although it stumbled in others fronts at the end of Day Three.

Malacañang lauded the winning triathletes as well as the achievers in other sports.

“The week starts with a good harvest of medals for the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Huelgas came back to retain his title in the men’s division with a clocking of one hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds, over four minutes ahead of Chicano (2:01:27), while Mangrobang  wrested the ladies’ crown from a hurting compatriot and defending champion Claire Adorna to finish in a runaway time of 2:11:14. Adorna joined her over seven minutes later in 2:18:58.

The quadruple feats became another source of pride and inspiration for the Philippine contingent which struggled early in the 15-day conclave after  the exploits of Mary Joy Tabal who hurdled the SEA Games’  first test of endurance, the women’s marathon Saturday morning.

Huelgas was second out of the water after the swim phase, a two-lap 1,500m course at the marina in front of the spectators stands in the outskirts of Putra Jaya’s super-rich community, with a Thai the first to emerge, Clement Chao and a fellow Singaporean at third and an Indonesian at fourth.

Huelgas surged ahead in the bike phase on the 40km strip of the Putra Jaya Highway. From behind, Chicano kept the second running Chao in check going into the run phase, a four-lap 10K course, just opposite the bike lanes.

Huelgas already established a lead of over 50 meters over Chao going into the third lap, with only one lap to go to win the gold. With the gold in the bag for Huelgas Chicano then surged past the Singaporean halfway also in the third lap and maintained his pace to finish a strong second. Chao was third two minutes later in 2:03:24.

Adorna and Mangrobang emerged from the water ahead, enjoying a 750m lead, or 90 seconds over  a field both Filipinas left behind from the bike run to the finish.

With coaches and triathlon veterans Ani de Leon and Mark Anthony Hosana and a handful of Filipinos egging them on in the junction of the  bike and run lanes, Adorna and Mangrobang built a speed on the flat surface of the Putra Jaya highway and, with plenty to spare, rode as one in the bike phase.

But there has to be one winner.

 Adorna started to feel pain in her calf and promptly slowed down, allowing Mangrobang to complete the race and win the gold.

Adorna checked in four minutes later in the finish line where she was draped with the Philippine flag and was hugged by Mangrobang.

Then Malaysia’s Irene Chong came in, dragging her feet in a brave effort to finish the race. She won the bronze in 2:25:14. 

Team Phl also captured two silvers in the day through Samantha Catantan in women’s individual foil event and wushu artist Agatha Wong, who scored 9.65 points in women’s optional taijian.

Maxine Esteban also bagged a bronze in women’s individual foil in fencing.

Over at the National Sports Center Synthetic Turf Field, archers Florante Matan, Gabriel Moreno and Mark Javier as well as Nicole Marie Tagle, Mary Queen Ybanez and Kareel Meer Hongitan claimed the bronze medals in the men’s and women’s recurve events.

The troika of Matan, Moreno and Javier bowed to the Malaysians, 54-57, 53-58, 49-52, but beat the Vietnamese, 50-49, 55-54, 52-55, for the bronze.

Tagle, Ybanez and Meer, on the other hand, also lost to Indonesia, 50-52, 55-54, 54-56, 52-55, but toppled Vietnam, 51-44, 50-47, 55-47, for third.

The sepak takraw squad of Rizalyn Amolacion, Mary Ann Lopez, Jean Marie Sucalit, Kristel Karloman and Lhaina Lhiell Mangubat also took the bronze in women’s regu event by beating Indonesia.

It was sepak takraw team’s second medal in the biennial meet after its men’s team booked the silver in the chinlone event in the early days of the biennial games.

Host Malaysia stayed ahead in the overall medal race with a 21-gold, 18-silver and 15-bronze haul while Singapore in in far second with a 9-10-8 tally.

Thailand (6-6-7), Vietnam (6-4-5) and Indonesia (5-7-13) are just slightly ahead of the Philippines (3-6-6) heading to Day 9 of the regional meet where the Filipinos hope to strike in athletics, karate, billiards, fencing and gymnastics, among others.

In cycling, 2015 SEAG Singapore ITT gold medalist Marella Salamat fell short in women’s criterium of the cycling competition, finishing out of the medal podium at fourth.