Didal wins 2nd gold; Dela Pisa big winner

MANILA, Philippines —  Cebuana Margielyn Didal proved she is the country’s top skateboarder after winning her second gold in street skate while gymnast Daniela Reggie Dela Pisa ends the country’s gold medal drought in rhythmic gymnastics after bagging the hoops gold in the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Didal who won her first SEA Games gold through the Game of SKATE three days ago returned to showcase her wares in the street skate competition in the country’s first standard skate park in Tagaytay City yesterday.

Didal proved to be a league of her own after posting 12.7 points to win her second gold in the event. This is also the same event that got her an Asian Games gold in Indonesia last year.

Didal beat anew teammate Christiana Means who posted 7.3 points and Indonesia’s Kyandira Susanto who got 4.0 points.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Dela Pisa, an ovarian cancer survivor, handed the Philippines its first gold in rhythmic gymnastics in the SEA Games via the hoops event at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Daniela’s mother and personal coach Darlene Castaneda-Dela Pisa could not help but cry for joy as her eldest daughter performed more than what was expected of her.

Darlene told The Freeman she expected only a bronze in the four events Dela Pisa qualified for the finals after the preliminary round last Friday.

“Bronze ra gyud akong gi-expect based sa iyang performance gahapon pero pagkakita nako sa iyang performance karon, na-shock na lang ko. First time pa ni naka-gold ang Pilipinas sa rhythmic sa SEA Games (I only expected a bronze based on her perfomances yesterday but when I saw her performance today, I was shocked. This is the first time the Philippines got a gold in rhythmic gymnastics in the SEA Games)!” Darlene said.

Dela Pisa herself was surprised by what she was able to do, especially in the hoops event where she posted a total of 17.750, 11.400 for the level of difficulty and 6.30 points in execution.

“Wa gyud ko ga-expect mag-gold and nga ing-ana ka dako akong score. Happy kaayo ko. This is for my family and those who helped me in my training (I never expected to get a gold and get that a score that high. I’m very happy. This is for my family and those who helped me in my training),” she said.

Dela Pisa also got two bronze medals through the ball and clubs but missed to get into the podium in the ribbon event.

She said she had difficulty during the ribbon event because the air-conditioning was too strong.

“Kusog kaayo ang hangin sa aircon, galisod ko. Pero okay ra, happy na kaayo ko ron. After the SEA Games, basin balik ko training for Hungary though wa pa ko kabalo kung didto na ba kaha ko muskwela… tan-awn lang (The air-conditioning was too strong but it’s ok. I’m very happy now. I might train again in Hungary after the SEA Games but I’m not sure if I will pursue my studies there… we’ll see),” Dela Pisa told The Freeman.

Over at the Manila Hotel, Rubilen Amit lost to teammate Chezka Centeno, 3-7, in the race to seven 10-ball pool singles finals to settle with a silver medal.

Amit, however, hopes to bounce back from her loss when she plays in the 9-ball event, the event that made her a World Champion twice.  JMO (FREEMAN)