RP's gold medal quest kicks off in Cebu today

The Philippines' gold medal quest in the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games starts right here in Cebu grounds today with a total of six gold medals up for grabs in karatedo and the debuting dancesport events.

RP karatedo officials predict to grab two of the four gold medals at stake in first day of karatedo hostilities, which will commence with the team kumite finals in both men and women's divisions this 9 am at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

"I think one or two golds is not bad. I know our athletes will give their best to go for the gold," said karatedo coach David Lay.

First to plunge into action is the men's kumite team composed of Cebuano Sugar Rey Metante, Bernard Chu, Irineo Toribio, Revi Sani, Joel Gonzaga, Junel Perania, and Homer Panal to be followed by the women's squad powered by two-time SEAG gold medallist Gretchen Malalad, Chirley Tugday, Cebuana Lutche Metante, and Mae Esa.

"Our women's team has a very good chance of winning the gold. Meron ding tsansa yung men's team natin pero mas malaki talaga sa babae kasi matitindi ang lineup nila," said Lay.

Two more golds will be contested in the afternoon session through the men and women's individual kata, with Noel Espinosa and Stephanie Lim taking charge of RP's gold hunt.

Malalad, who is eyeing to become the first ever Filipino athlete in SEAG history to win three consecutive gold medals in karatedo, will see action tomorrow yet in the individual kumite +60 kgs. division.

Lay said the Filipino karatekas, who are aiming to take at least seven out of the 18 golds the sport offers, are expected to face tough opposition from defending champion Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

"But I'm confident our athletes can do well dahil matatag ang pag-iisip nila. Right now, mental preparedness is all that matters kasi kapag wala ka nun, mawala na ang diskarte mo sa laro," said Lay.

Over at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino grand ballroom, the national athletes aim to sweep the two gold medals to be won in dancesport, which is making its maiden appearance in the biennial sports conclave.

The golds will come from the Latin American and Standard categories, which consist of five dances each. Latin American features samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, paso doble, and jive (bogie), while the Standard has waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot, and quickstep,

Representing the country in the Standard event are Rico Rosima, Emmanuel Reyes,

Filomena Salvador, and Maria Rosete, while Michael Mendoza, John Errol Melencio, Belinda Adora, and Dearlie Gerodias will show their stuff in the Latin American showdown.

Men must wear black or midnight blue in the standard sections, but colourful dress is allowed in the Latin categories. The music must last for a minimum one-and-a-half minute or a minute for Viennese waltz and jive, and must match the character of the dance.

Dancesport or ballroom dancing, which has its origins in pre-World War I Europe, was entered as a demonstration sport in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

It's inclusion in the 23rd SEA Games is expected to drum up interest in ballroom dancing in the Southeast Asian region.