Swim silver glistens like gold; Payla enters semis

HYDERABAD, India–A shocking feat in swimming, but a heartbreaker in tennis.

This, in a nutshell, summed up the Philippines’ campaign in the second day of action in the first Afro-Asian Games here as it bagged a silver and took home three bronze medals even as another boxer punched his way to the semifinal round for another sure bronze for the sport that has given the country countless honors in the past.

But it was a wisp of a teener in Liane Marice Marquez who provided the Sunday shocker as she won that silver that glittered like gold for a junior swimming team that came here just to gain exposure but came out dishing a superb performance against a senior field right from the start of the competitions.

"Ang saya-saya ko, napasuntok nga ako nung malaman kong nag-second ako," said Marquez, giggling while recounting her second-place finish to a Nigerian rival in the women’s 50-m backstroke. She actually lost by a touch with a 31.92-second clocking compared to Inyenginikabo Obia’s 31.68.

"It was totally unexpected," said a jubilant team manager Tess Filio. "We came here just for exposure since this is an entirely junior team. Pero hindi nagpa-intimidate ang mga bata."

Michael Mars Danila, on the other hand, settled for bronze in the same event of the men’s side in 29.12, way behind Mizuki Wakabayashi (26.05), who led Japan’s sweep of four golds staked in the day.

"Hindi ko inaasahan ito, exposure lang talaga ang habol namin," said the 16-year-old Danila, younger brother of national team mainstay Liza. Marquez, Danila and nine other junior swimmers competing here are members of the RP team in the recent ASEAN age-group championships in San Pablo City.

Actually, a second silver was there for the taking for the Pinoy athletes, this time in tennis, but Patricia Santos succumbed to pressure and double-faulted in the 11th game of a decider of the women’s team event final to hand their Indonesian rivals a crucial break. Serving for the match at 6-5, the tandem of Sandy Gumulya and Septi Mende held serve in a tense game to complete a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.

Czarina Arevalo gave the Philippines a head start with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, win over Mende but Santos bowed to Gumulya, 6-7, 1-6, to level the tie.

Earlier, the men’s team of Joseph Victorino and Johnny Arcilla was swept by the Indian pair Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritjah, 0-3. Bopanna ripped Victorino, 6-3, 6-2, while Amritjah overpowered Arcilla, 6-3, 6-4, before Vijay Kannan and Vishal Uppal beat Arcilla and Adelo Abadia, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

Over at the Gachibowli indoor gym, Violito Payla showcased the skill and talent of Filipino pugilists, flitting in and out of reach of Rajabu Amaki. While the Tanzanian’s punches packed more power, Payla’s style and technique reigned unchallenged as he cruised to a 19-10 victory and into the semifinal round of the flyweight division.

That continued the siege of the Pinoy pugs, gearing up for the SEA Games in Vietnam in December, as light-fly Harry Tanamor earlier assured the country of a second bronze following Roel Laguna’s advance to the semis due to a lean field in the lightweight class for an automatic bronze medal.

Ferdie Gamo, the last and fourth in a talent-laden team sent here by Team Revicon, ABAP, Pacific Heights, Accel and PSC, was fighting his way to the semis against a tough Algerian rival at presstime.

Meanwhile, Lerma Bulauitan and Maristela Torres finally get the chance to strut their stuff in the long jump event at the start of athletics competitions at the main track and field stadium.

Go Teng Kok, president of PATAFA, has expressed high hopes for his wards in the centerpiece event of this inaugural meet that has gathered some of the best athletes from two continents with the rest of the seven-man track and field squad set to see action Thursday. John Lozada will compete in the 800-m run while the foursome of Jimar Aying, Ernie Candelario, Ronnie Marfil and Rod Tanuan are seeing action in the 4x400 meter relay.