Pinoy bikers fail to grab gold, but win medals for the first time in downhill tilt

DANAO CITY - The Filipino cyclists missed the first two golds at stake in 23rd SEA Games mountainbike event here at the Ramon Durano Sr. Memorial Sports Complex, but they still have something to celebrate for as this marks for the first time the Philippines won medals in the downhill event topped by Indonesia's Sugianto Setyawan.

"This is his fourth time that he (Sugianto Setyawan) won the gold in the SEA Games. We're so happy we got the gold especially that the Philippines came out really fast,"says Indonesian coach Chandra Ariavijaya.

Before Setyawan came, it was RP bet Joey Barba who had the best time. Everyone at the full-packed sports complex were chanting and initially celebrating, only to be spoiled with Sugianto crossing the water-filled pit finish line in two minutes and 14 seconds.

Sugianto remained the downhill king in Southeast Asia with 2.12 seconds advantage over Barba.

After learning of Sugianto's time, Barba, who was sitting at the team's tent, slammed his uniform in frustration.

"Sayang ang gold. Sayang talaga. May mga mali kasi akong nagawa sa taas. Dun sa may steps, dapat dino-double ko yun, pero diko nagawa," said Barba.

Aside from Barba's bridesmaid finish, the RP team and PhilCycling officials led by their president Bert Lina still had something more to smile about with Michael Borja winning the bronze at 2:42.65.

Borja's performance was less expected as the Iloilo pedal-pusher had the slowest time in the seeding run said to be due to mechanical trouble.

Other than losing the gold in the men's division, the country's lone female bet, Athena Tricia Beltran, also missed to fulfill her mission after suffering flat tire in her bike's rear wheel.

Vietnam's Trang Phan Thi Thuy beat Thailand's Sattyanun Yasid with a 3:08.30 clocking to grab the gold.

Yasid settled for the silver with the time of 3:19.35, while Indonesia's Risa Suseanty got the bronze at 3.22.41 despite coming out slower than expected.

The RP team is expected to bounce back with the cross-country competition set early today.

More than just winning a gold, the RP team faces a tall order with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo coming over to witness the action.

Cebuano Nino Surban, and former SEA Games gold medallists Eusebio Quiñones and Frederick Feleciano are among RP's top bets to win gold.

Marites Bitbit is also expected to convert her bronze medal finish in the Vietnam SEA Games to gold when she competes in the women's division today.