Minda overall champ; P Princesa best in sepak

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY —Mindanao emerged with the biggest gold medal haul but Puerto Princesa won one close to the hearts of Palaweños.

With Mindanao clinching the overall crown a day before the BIMP East Asia Growth Area Friendship Games came to a close, Puerto Princesa pulled off the biggest shocker by stunning Indonesia’s South Sulawesi in the sepak takraw finals yesterday at the Mendoza Park here.

In a sport considered as the favorite past time here, the local team bashed the Indons, 2-0, before an appreciative crowd in this three-day meet organized by the Philippine Sports Commission through commissioner-in-charge Leon Montemayor and Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Puerto Princesa coach Hector Santillas said the victory was sweet because three of the members of South Sulawesi are mainstays of the Indon national squad.

Puerto Princesa ended up winning a total of nine gold medals to finish third overall behind Sabah, Malaysia and overall winner Mindanao.

Mindanao, headed by Anthony del Rosario, cashed in on 21 golden efforts and 24 silver and 14 bronze medals to rule this annual meet supported by Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and Congressman Abraham Mitra with Speedo and Air Philippines as sponsors.

Montemayor said the event was a smashing success and they are looking forward to hosting the next edition, possibly in Sabah, Malaysia.

"We’re happy that the BIMP EAGA Friendship Games is a big success," said Montemayor.

"But the job isn’t over yet because we have plans of meeting up again this October in Kota Kinabalu to draw up plans for the next edition," he added.

Rounding up the medal standings were South Sulawesi (8-2-4), North Sulawesi (7-8-7), Brunei Darussalam (2-2-3), and East Kalimantan (1-0-6).

"I’m happy that it’s a team from the Philippines that topped the medal standings," said Hagedorn. "But I am also elated that the Friendship Games achieved its theme of cultivating a culture of peace, friendship and unity through sports."