Buenavista floated with the 10-man group that included compatriot Julius Sermona in the first 10 laps but found himself alone at the helm after picking up speed one-third of the way and raced home in a SEA Games record of 29 minutes, 19.62 seconds to become the first Filipino to break the 30-minute barrier in the event.
His mark shatterd the old SEAG mark of 29:47.79. Myanmar’s Aung Thu Ya came in second in 29:40.28 while Thai Boonthung Srisung was third in 29:49.63.
Buenavista blew kisses to the cold afternoon wind as he crossed the finish line, then, draping himself with the Philipppine flag, took a victory run on the tarmac to the cheers of a full house crowd of over 25,000 at the state-of-the-art track and field oval.
"I’m very, very happy with this victory," said Buenavista who prepared under same cold conditions in Baguio City for over a year.
The 5-2 runner, however, tried to run cautiously at the start so as not to aggravate a slight hamstring injury he suffered during workout after arrival here Dec. 4.
"Medyo naramdaman ko pa, pero nag-ingat din ako baka lumala," said Buenavista.
The injury could also determine whether he is going to compete today in the 3,000m steeplechase, where he is also heavily favored to win. The other event where he is a shoo-in to clinch the gold is the 1,500-meter run.
"This was sure gold," said athletics chief Go Teng Kok, who went down from the VIP stands to hug his favorite athlete, member of what Filipinos call the GTK Army back home.
"Walang kalaban-laban ang kalaban," said Go.
Buenavista assumed the lead right at the start of the race, with Aung Thu Ya and Boonthung right behind him during the first 10 laps.
"I tried to see if they would keep up the pace when I tried to step it up after that, but they just maintained their pace, so I just kept that pace—I did not slow down a bit," he said.
Go said the win augurs well for the Philippine tracksters’ bid to go home with at least five gold medals, counting the 1,500 and 3000 m steeplechase of Buenavista, the 400m run by Ernie Candelario, and the 800 m run.