There’s no denying Kim in triathlon, duathlon
HANOI – Caloy Yulo was like a thunderbolt that struck twice for Team Philippines yesterday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here.
With golden feats in the floor exercise and rings, the 22-year-old Filipino became the first triple-gold winner in this Vietnamese capital hosting the SEA Games for only the second time.
And from fifth place last Saturday, the Philippines is now running second behind Vietnam in the overall medal tally.
Yulo also won the all-around gold last Friday, and has so far surpassed his two gold medals (all-around and floor) in the 2019 edition in Manila. He gets a crack at three more golds today in high bar, parallel bars and vault.
Yulo, who missed a medal in yesterday’s pommel horse, might end up winning one, two or three more golds today.
He’s not done counting yet.
“Tatlo na po. Meron pa,” the world champion in 2019 in Stuttgart (floor) and 2021 in Kitakyushu (vault) told mediamen at the packed Quan Ngura Sports Palace.
“Of course, I’m happy. Nagawa ko yung mga dapat kong gawin. I’m proud,” beamed the 4-foot-11 gymnast with bulging biceps.
Yulo ruled the floor exercise with a score of 15.200, handily beating Singapore’s Terry Tay Wei 14.044 and Vietnam’s Trinh Hai Khang at 14.000. In the rings, Yulo got the gold with a 14.400.
The Filipino crowd, scattered in small groups, and including the Ravena brothers and Matthew Wright of the Gilas team, erupted with cheers after Yulo’s score was shown on the electronic scoreboard.
For a while, the place felt like home for them.
Yulo’s outstanding performance helped Team Philippines to a single-day haul of eight golds as it continues to chase medals and land in the podium after winning the overall crown back home in 2019.
He’s not the only one who shone bright on this rainy Sunday.
Kim Mangrobang, who won the women’s individual triathlon gold last Saturday, bagged her second gold by winning in duathlon with a time of two hours 13 minutes 12 seconds.
Malaysia’s Najmunisaa Muhammad Zai came in second in 2:14:22 while compatriot Zahra Putri Bulan was third in 2:14:49.
Team Philippines bagged five more gold medals courtesy of wushu star Agatha Wong (women’s taijijian); gymnast Aleah Finnegan Cruz (women’s vault at 13.133); wushu artist Arnel Mandal (men’s 56kg sanda); shotput specialist William Morrison who erased his own SEA Games record of 18.38 with 18.41 meters; and the dancesport pair of Stephanie Sabalo and Michael Angelo Marquez in cha-cha.
Cruz, the Fil-American gymnast, also has two golds in her bag counting the one in the all-around team.
Overall, Team Philippines has 20 golds, 23 silver and 32 bronze medals while Vietnam, tipped to win the overall title, is way ahead with its 55-40-41 haul with more than a week of competition left.
Thailand is side by side with the Philippines with its 19-18-39 while Indonesia and Malaysia are in step with 17-26-15 and 16-11-27.
Securing silver medals yesterday were Janry Ubas in men’s shot put; Jollirine Co in women’s jiu-jitsu -45 kg; Nathaniel Perez in men’s individual foil in fencing; and the tandem of Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Cañeda in samba (dancesport).
Hauling a bunch of bronze medals were Marc Lim in men’s -69kg in jiu-jitsu; Jan Vincent Cortez in men’s -56kg nogi event in jiujitsu; the women’s tennis team of Alex Eala, Marian Capadocia, Shaira Rivera and Jenalla Prula; men’s tennis team of Treat Huey, Ninoy Alcantara, Ruben Gonzales, Jeson Patrombon and Eric Olivarez; Naomi Gardoce in women’s mountain-bike individual downhill; Alvin Campos in men’s tanding in pencak silat; Alfrence Braza in men’s 1500m race; Joida Gagnao in women’s 5000 meters; Miranda Renner in women’s 100m freestyle; John Derick Farr in men’s mountain bike downhill; and Sonny Wagdos in men’s 5000 meters.
In golf, former Asian Games gold medalist Lois Kaye Go gave it a shot but couldn’t get to the podium, firing a 70 for a 215 total at the Heron Lake Golf Course.
Thai Natthakritta Vongtaveelap won individual gold with a four-under 68 and a commanding 14-under 202 while Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza Mabutas clinched the silver (65-209). Malaysia’s Jeneath Wong settled for the bronze (69-209).
Mafy Singson also fought back with a 70 for 219 while ICTSI teammate Rianne Malixi finished with a 71 for a 221.
The men’s team struggled from the start with Jed Dy closing out with a 72 for 222, Jet Hernandez a 78 for 224 and Gab Manotoc a 79 for a 228. Kristoffer Arevalo booked a 78 for a 235.
Malaysian Ervin Chang and Amadeus Susanto of Indonesia foiled the Thais’ bid for a sweep of individual gold medals when they took the gold and silver. Thailand’s Weerawish Narkprachar got the bronze.
The hunt for the team gold begins today leading to the semis tomorrow and the medal rounds on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Team Philippines will begin its difficult quest for medals in bowling today with singles action at the Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes.
The bowling team is out to end an 11-year medal drought. Merwin Tan and Ivan Malig will get things going at 9 a.m. while Alexis Sy and Mades Arles see action in the women’s side at 1 p.m.
Under head coach Biboy Rivera, the team managed to practice at the competition venue for two days.
Four other events – men’s and women’s doubles and team events in both divisions – are on tap. Completing the team are Lara Posadas-Wong, Rachelle Leon, Christian Dychangco and Patrick Nuqui.
Late Saturday, Carlo Angelo Pena secured his own silver medal in jiu-jitsu’s -62 kg while Noelito Jose Jr. had a silver in fencing’s individual epee.
Joida Gagnao, meanwhile, settled for the bronze in the women’s 5000m run while Fil-American Miranda Renner gave the swimming team its first medal here – a bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle.
Renner timed 59.950 seconds at the My Dinh Water Sports Palace. Singapore’s Ting Wen Quah, as expected, took the gold in 55.600 and Thailand’s Jenijira Srisa-ard the bronze in 56.620.
Four other Filipino swimmers – Chloe Isleta, Jerard Jacinto, Jonathan Cook and Chloe Daos – saw action but failed to land a medal in their respective events.
The Philippine women’s football team made it to the semifinals after Vietnam crushed Cambodia, 7-0, in Group A.
Vietnam’s victory pushed the Filipinas into second, and Team Phl will now face the top-ranked team in Group B in the knockout stage on Wednesday.