Amposta, Abala tune up for Asiad, bag silver

MANILA, Philippines - Alvin Amposta and Roque Abala Jr.’s build up for this year’s Asian Games got a big boost when they bagged the silver medal in the 2010 Japan Cup (32nd All Japan International Lightweight Rowing Championships) at the Toda Olympic Boat Course in Toda City, Saitama, Japan over the weekend.

Amposta and Abala bested a number of local teams and finished second behind the Hong Kong national squad for the silver in the men’s lightweight doubles sculls.

National coach Ed Maerina said the victory should boost the Filipino rowers’ confidence as they gear up for the Asiad slated in Guangzhou, China this November.

“We will really be competing in the Asian Games so this is a good thing for us to win a medal in an exposure event. Hopefully, we could get more exposures in the coming months,” said Maerina, whose squad trained in the La Mesa Dam before the race.

Philippine Rowing Association president Benjie Ramos said the Japan event was as tough as the Asian Games.

“The standard competition there is really at a high. The times recorded were within Asian Games standard,” said Ramos.

Amposta won the gold with Olympian Benjie Tolentino in the men’s lightweight doubles sculls in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games.