Pinoy bets press bid for Asian Para glory

NAGOYA — Here comes the brigade.

Tankers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom, cyclists Arthus Bucay and Patrick Lee and lifter Alyana Nuñez chase glory for the country as action intensifies in the 5th Asian Para Games today.

Gawilan, the lone Filipino gold medalist left from the Hangzhou edition three years ago, plunges into action at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium along with the wondrous 23-year Otom, a triple gold winner in last year’s ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

“Kapalaran na ang magsasabi,” said the 35-year-old Paquibato, Davao City native who was born with underdeveloped legs.

The 45-year-old Bucay, a Paralympian and former Asian Games gold winner, and 21-year-old Lee, an Asian Para Track Championship bronze medalist last March in Tagaytay, try to earn 2028 LA Paralympics qualifying points if not deliver the country’s first gold in this city facing the Pacific coast.

Bucay is scheduled to race in the 1km individual time trial while Lee in the 1km ITT and individual pursuit track and 15km ITT and 65km road race at the Izu Veldrome and Japan Cycle Sports Center in Izu, Shizouka Prefecture, which is a three-hour drive from here.

Also part of the team is Nikko Peralta, who will compete in 4km pursuit road race and ITT road hoping and praying to pull off a surprise or two.

“Wala kami expectation sa track, pero sa road race kami focused for the purpose of points for Paralympics,” said national para cycling team coach Norberto Oconer, a 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympian.

Despite early setbacks, there were rays of hope in table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota where Lhey Manginsay and Billy Smith Cartera advanced to the quarterfinals and round-of-16, respectively.

The 22-year-old Manginsay routed Tajikistan’s Nadima Nurbekova, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1, in the women’s singles Class 9 that more than made up for a stinging 9-11, 10-12, 1-11 defeat to three-time Paralympic gold medalist Mao Jingdian of China last Friday.

Cartera, for his part, downed Mongolian Myagmartsogt Purevdorj, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1, to advance in the men’s singles Class 4-5.

Cartera, who lost to World No. 5 Zhengyang Peng of China in his first outing, seeks a quarters seat against Thai Norakan Chanphaka Monday.

The games were officially ushered in last night amid a spectacle at the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park with around 5,000 athletes, coaches and sports officials in attendance.

Athletes from the Philippines, headed by flag-bearers Manginsay and Allain Ganapin of taekwondo, along with chef-de-mission Francis Diaz and deputy CDM Judd Anastacio, joined the parade in Filipiña attire.