Duplantis reasserts mastery, sends Obiena back to reality

MANILA, Philippines – Just a few days after his breakthrough effort in Bergen, Norway, Filipino star EJ Obiena had a chance to show off his newfound optimism and challenge the king of the sport himself —Armand Duplantis.

But on Thursday, he couldn’t find the same all-powerful form and was sent back to his proper place by Duplantis.

In their first collision since barging into the elite six-meter club that the Swedish demigod himself heads, the World No. 3 from the Philippines fizzled under tremendous pressure and wound up third in the Oslo Diamond League’s Bislett Games that Duplantis almost effortlessly topped.

Obiena was a shell of himself from the one that showed up in Bergen where he finally unlocked the mystery of the 6.0m-puzzle in ruling the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge.

Incidentally, he roamed free and won in the absence of Duplantis.

But in the presence of the world champion and record-holder and Olympic gold medalist, Obiena just withered and scrambled to a 5.81m, which was still good for a bronze.

It was a Duplantis show all over again in ruling the meet with a 6.01m. 

American World No. 2 Christopher Nilsen took the silver with a 5.91m.

Obiena knew he would have more chances to slay the dragon.

For now, he would have to go back and lurk in the shadows and wait for that opportunity to come.