Goma loses, but vows comeback

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) – He was frustrated again, but more than ever, movie celebrity Richard Gomez said he will not retire – not until he wins the elusive gold in the Southeast Asian Games.

Indonesian Perdian Triagi, the same fencer who dealt him his only loss the last time fencing was played in the Jakarta Southeast Asian Games in 1997, did it again this year in the epee event as "Goma" settled for the silver anew on his third try in his pet event.

"He was, of course, dejected because he lost again, but he said this is one reason that he will come back in the next SEA Games (in Vietnam). He will try and try until he finally wins the gold," said fencing association president Victor Africa of the 35-year-old movie and TV personality, who was in the SEA Games since 1995.

A horde of fans, mostly from the Philippine community, came here to watch Goma compete in the event. He defeated Trai Boodratana of Thailand in the quarterfinals and another Thai, Rathprasert Siriroj, in the semifinals to enter the finals against his Indonesian tormentor.

Goma, who is also a basketball player and had been with the national rowing team before he fell in love with fencing and his wife Lucy, has been mobbed by fans who sought his autograph and asked him for photo sessions after the game.

Goma, second ranked fencer in the Philippines, is a veteran of the 1995 and 1997 SEA Games and the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. The well-known actor and product endorser, who wants to be better known also as a champion in sports, was silver medallist in the individual and team event in the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta and in the Southeast Asia Pacific Fencing championships on the same year in Manila. He was gold medallist in the team epee event in the 1997 Southeast Asia Fencing Federation championships in Bangkok and in the 1996 Philippine National Games.

Fencing was not included in the1999 Brunei calendar, but Goma was in the Brunei sultanate as a P1-a-year consultant on youth and sports of former President Joseph Estrada.

Fencing produced the other silver medal through Lorena San Diego in the women’s epee event. San Diego advanced to the semifinals at the expense of teammate Ma. Lorena Bauzon but lost to Siritida Choochokko of Thailand in the finals. The other silver came Monday from Lenita Garcia Reyes in the foil individual event.

Africa, who has taken over the reins of the fencing association from current Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, also expressed disappointment over the failure of his fencers to win a gold after two days of competitions.

"Of course the medal that matters is the gold, but like Goma, we will not rest until we finally win one," he said.

While Goma succeeded in bagging the silver, his teammate Wilfredo Viscayno failed to make it to the main draw.