Rising stars spark 7-gold run

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — Young athletes, taking over from a generation of past stars, made an explosive show in athletics and bowling as they led a seven-gold medal haul in five sports and pumped life into the Philippines’ struggling campaign in the 21st Southeast Asian Games here yesterday.

Athletics gathered momentum in its quest for at least seven gold medals as the tracksters bagged two more gold medals on the second day of athletic competitions at the Kuala Lumpur national stadium last night.

In bowling, the nationals won golds in two events to add to the gold medal finish the other day. A golfer from the caddie ranks won the individual gold in golf competitions with the widest of margins, an archer finally clinched a gold after 10 years with the national team, and a cue artist won billiards’ second title in another all-Filipino final.

These seven golds atoned for the meager three gold medals the other day and put the Philippines ahead of Vietnam in the battle for fourth place overall with 22 golds. The Philippines overtook Vietnam with the country’s gold in the decathlon late in the night.

Ernie Candelario clinched the country’s first gold medal in the 400 meters in 14 years by shading his Thai opponent Narong Niploy with a time of 46.69 seconds.

Fidel Gallenero then claimed the gold in the decathlon with injured compatriot Joebert Delican in third place.

In bowling, Leonardo "Botchok" Rey a fixture in the national team for a number of years, took over from where former three-time SEAG champion Paulo Valdez left by clinching the all events crown with a score of 5,354, then led the RP team which included Constantine Chester King, Christian Jan Suarez, Engelbert Rivera, and Benito Dytoc to the gold in the men’s team-of-five on a total score of 2,150, a good 150 points over second-ranked Thailand.

Juvic Pagunsan gave the Philippines an awesome gold-medal win with a runaway nine-stroke lead in the individual competitions on the narrow fairways and superfast greens of the Sungai Long golf course, a 30-minute drive from the Kuala Lumpur national stadium here.

Purita Joy Marino, a psychology graduate from Silliman University, outclassed Myanmar’s Thi Thi Win, 95-86, in the finals to win the gold in the women’s individual competition in archery.

It was the first-ever international gold medal for the 30-year-old national archer who has been with the national team since 1991, and she virtually had to pass through the eye of the needle in reaching the gold medal round after compatriot Adelinda Figueroa lost right in the first round.

Marino disposed of Thai Ubonhrut Chitkatikhun, 155-125, in the Round of 16, whipped Kieu Thu Thu Hoan of Vietnam, 154-118, in the quarterfinals, but her most difficult round came in the semifinals where she faced top seed Fairuz Haniusah Ibrahim

She rallied from behind three points to shade the Malaysian, whom local fans expected to win the gold medal, by only a point, 100-99, to advance to the finals.

In the billiards hall at the KL national stadium, only two Filipinos were left standing to dispute the 9-ball singles gold. Antonio Lining hacked out a 5-2 win over teammate Lee Van Corteza, who upset Efren "Bata" Reyes in the 8-ball singles finals earlier.

Malaysia continues to lead with 63-46-53, followed by Thailand (51-44-52)), Indonesia (43-36-46), the Philippines (22-41-40) and Vietnam (21-24-36).

"Hindi ko akalain na mananalo ako. Ang daming malalakas na kalaban," the 23-year-old Pagunsan who drives an average 280 yards aid after posting a 72-hole total of 279.

Marino, frustrated that she missed the chance to compete in the Sydney Olympics, showed she’s now the country’s top performer by crushing her first two rivals — Thailand’s Ubonrut Chukiattikhun, 155-125, and Vietnam’s Kieu Thi Thu Hoah, 154-116 — to advance to the finals.

The women’s team-of-five, led by Liza Clutario’s 1241, took the silver with 5961, losing to the Malaysians who recorded 6260 as world champion Shalin Zulkifli posted a blistering 1400 six-game series.

Ces Yap produced the other RP bowling silver yesterday by finishing second in the all events.

Sydney Olympian Benjie Tolentino, a favorite in rowing’s men single sculls, came to grief on his 28th birthday when he bowed to Indonesia’s 6-foot-9 champion Lazmin Lazmin in the 2,000-meter race at Tuba Dam.

"Nagkamali ako sa strategy," said Tolentino, who finished 18th in the same event in the Olympics to emerge as the best Southeast Asian "Malungkot ako, dahil birthday ko ngayon. Pero makakabawi din ako sa ibang araw."

Nestor Cordova and Harvey Regalado also earned a silver in another rowing event, the men’s coxless pairs.

Rey, who has emerged as the most bemedalled Filipino in these games with three golds so far, again sparked with 1341 on games of 227,213,211,205,242 and 243.

Suarez came up with 1317 while King, Rivera and Dytoc posted 1246, 1236 and 1187, respectively.

Clutario shot lines of 211, 181, 196, 221, 209 and 223 to pace the RP ladies. Liza del Rosario, Ces Yap, Jojo Canare and Irene Garcia Benitez backed her up with 1224, 1185, 1168 and 1143, respectively.

"Big victories," Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit said of the four early golds won yesterday. "I hope our athletes continue their good showing."

Dayrit and other Filipino sports officials, including Philippine Sports Commission Chair Carlos Tuason, are hoping for a fourth overall finish for the RP contingent.