Rowers unfazed with bitter loss

BUSAN, South Korea — Filipino rowers put up a brave front in the aftermath of their bitter defeats and vowed to continue chasing their dreams.

"Magtutuloy tayo hanggang bukas ang pinto," said Benjie Tolentino, Jr., who finished fourth in the men’s single sculls finals.

"Ganoon talaga ang laro, babalik tayo," said Jose Rodriguez as he finished fourth in the men’s lightweight single sculls.

The entire RP officialdom, supporters and cheering squad lined the banks of Nakdong River as they hoped to witness a victory that would finally give Team Philippines its first medal after three days of living in Asiad limbo.

It wasn’t to be. A late start and the choppy waters in midday hastened their downfall.

The 31-year-old Rodriguez, a bemedalled rower seasoned in overseas campaigns for six years and highly touted to have a solid shot at a medal, suffered from a late start and faded in the last 250 meters to finish fourth in 7:26.13. He finished 1.98 seconds behind Hongkong’s Law Hiu Fung (7:24.05).

China’s Zhu Zhifu won the gold (7:12.55) followed by Japan’s Hitoshi Hase (7:16.53).

Rodriguez came off late from the starting block and was fifth in the first 500 meters of the 2,000-m course but he poured it on the next 500 meters and seized third overall behind the Chinese and the Japanese.

He sustained that torrid pace in the 500 meters and was holding close to a four-second lead and a three-boat edge over Law but he visibly spent himself from the effort and the Hongkong entry streaked home in the last 200 meters to claim the bronze.

"Biglang bumulusok siya at noong pinili kong mag-pick up ng speed, hindi ko na nahabol," said Rodriguez.

Tolentino, 28, a grandson of the late former Olympian Mariano Tolentino struggled against high waves early on but hang on to third place in the first 1500 meters, keeping an eye on Law whom he felt would be his biggest rival for a medal.

But the Filipino didn’t notice Pakistan’s Mohammed Akran Pak on the sixth lane and he lost out to the Pakistani in the last 250 meters,

"Masyadong maalon at nahirapan akong mag-stroke dahil matigas na ang tubig at doon ako tinalo ng Pakistani," said Tolentino who timed in 8:46.61. China’s Cui Yonghui won the gold (8:19.40), Hongkong’s Law (8:31.48) the silver and Pak (8:40.57) the bronze.

That left the tandem of Alvin Amposta and Nestor Cordova with the chance to break the 20-year medal drought for the RP in Asiad water sports as they vie in the final of the lightweight double sculls.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain lauded the efforts of the rowers, noting that for the first time, the rowers all made it to the finals of the event.

"We are very proud of what they have accomplished. We didn’t win any medal but they really gave it their best shot," said Buhain.

Rowing was not part of the equation to gold for Team Philippines and Philippine Olympic Committee president Cito Dayrit said the country’s chances to win remains intact.

"Considering that rowing is not in the list of the disciplines we hope to medal, our chances remain high since we hope to medal in billiards, bowling, golf and boxing. Still our rowers’ results proved we’re the best in Southeast Asia," said Dayrit.