Awesome threesome breaks ice for RP

VIENTIANE – Carla Lagman, Rani Ann Ortega and Francesca Alarilla put together their world class act in a superlative show of grace and power in taekwondo’s poomsae competitions and won the country’s first gold as expected yesterday in the 25th Southeast Asian Games.

The trio, fresh from its gold medal performance in the World Poomsae Championships in Cairo, Egypt last week, won the gold with a total of 16.97 points to beat close rival Thailand (16.94) barely three hours before the formal opening of the Games in this former kingdom, which became the Lao Democratic Republic on Dec. 2, 1975.

The Philippines and Thailand were tied at 8.37 in the first part of a difficult routine – the keumgang which involved arm and leg coordination – but the Filipinas made an impressive showing in the second part – the pyongwon, which involved fully-coordinated kicks – to earn 8.60 points. Thailand was slightly behind with 8.57 points.

Vietnam and Indonesia won the consolation bronze in the four-nation competition.

The trio embraced one another in celebration when the results were announced, and Filipino athletes and officials who walked from the nearby Athletes Village to watch the event waived Philippine flaglets to celebrate Team Philippines’ breakthrough gold in the biennial competitions.

The team of Anthony Matias and Sabido brothers Brian and Jean also made a go for it in the men’s side earlier but fell short, settling for the bronze with 16.74 points behind Vietnam (16.93) and host Laos (16.80).

“We are so blessed that we achieved all our goals. First, we won the world championship - now, the SEA Games. I guess we have made history,” Lagman said. 

Vietnam’s Chau Tuyet Van, Duong Huynh Mai and Nguyen Thu Ngan wept in the open after yielding the silver to Thailand’s A. Panida, T. Pich-Chapha and Salisa Amnuaychai, who rallied sharply in the second routine to nail 16.94 against the former’s 16.87.

Two critical mistakes by the Philippines’ men’s team in the second routine allowed Vietnam to run away with the gold. Vietnam had actually opened the door for the Filipino trio of Anthony Matias, Brian Sabido and Jean Sabido, scoring merely 8.2 in its second routine after a solid 8.73 in the first.

However, Jean Sabido, who turns 20 today, lost his balance on one foot twice, reducing the team’s score to 8.30 after a strong start of 8.44. The trio eventually finished third while Laos grabbed the silver with a 16.80 (8.50, 8.30).

Ortega and Jean Sabido teamed up later to take the bronze with 16.76 points in the mixed pair won by Vietnam (17.40) and Thailand (17.16). Myanmar shared the bronze with a slightly lower score of 16.63.

The Filipinos were earlier entered in the individual events but dropped out to concentrate on the team competitions.

Counting the silver medal finish of the water polo team Dec. 7, Team Philippines had 1-1-4 gold-silver-bronze medals as action goes into high gear in this city which celebrated 35 years of democratic rule in two-hour rites highlighted with the military parade, march of athletes and the traditional lighting of the SEA Games Flame.

The host, a country with a predominantly agricultural economy and a long history of strife with hostile neighbors which have become its partners, welcomed over 4,000 athletes and officials from 10 countries in a night of dance depicting its rich culture and history and capped the celebrations with fireworks before the hosts entoned “Let the Games Begin.”

Two-time Olympians Tshomlee Go, Antonette Rivero and the rest of the RP taekwondo squad take their turn today as competition revs up on all fronts.

Rivero leads the five jins competing for six golds at the start of sparring event at the Booyoung Gymnasium inside the sprawling National University.

Rivero, 21, is entered in her pet event, the 67kg class (welterweight), where she won a silver medal in the 2007 edition of the biennial meet in Thailand.

The Filipino jins only brought home a single gold from the Thailand SEA Games courtesy of Go, while the others, including Rivero, settled for the silver in the aftermath of alleged dubious officiating that marked the Thailand Games.

 “We’re hoping for a good share of the officiating this time,” said team manager Rocky Samson.

“But looking at the draw, I can say we have good chances,” he added.

Other than Rivero, also competing today are Marlon Avenido (80kg), Alexander Briones (over 87kg), Criselda Roxas (73kg) and Kirstie Elaine Alora (heavyweight).

“Everybody has a chance for the gold,” said Alora.   

After dropping their opening assignment against Singapore, 1-3, Tuesday, Filipino table netters recovered with a sweep of Cambodia yesterday. They were scheduled to continue their campaign against Indonesia at 7 p.m. today.

Other events on tap today are beach volleyball, karate-do, muay, petanque and lawn tennis.