RP rowers win gold, silver in Shilong Cup

DONGGUAN CITY, China–The Philippines dragon boat team continued its impressive international showing last weekend by winning two medals–a gold and a silver–in the Shilong Cup competition at the Pearl River here in Guandong province.

Coach Nestor Ilagan’s 20 rowers ruled the open men’s 1000-meter race, beating host Dongguan and Hong Kong for the gold medal in the 14-team race.

The RP mixed team then took a silver in the 1000-meter open mixed event, clocking 5 minutes 27.89 seconds.

Shilong A won the gold in 5:20.00 while Shilong B bagged the bronze in 5:43.95.

"The (mixed) race was close and we could have won if our (male) rowers were not exhausted after winning their event," said Ilagan, who was also at the helm of the Philippine men’s team that captured a gold and a silver in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last year. "Hindi na sila pinababa ng bangka, tuloy agad sa pangalawang karera."

Among the participants in the men’s event were rowers from Malaysia, Japan, Monte Carlo, Ireland, Hong Kong, Macau, China and the Philippines. Those who competed in the mixed race were Malaysia, Monte Carlo, Ireland, Macau, Hong Kong, China and the Philippines.

It was the first time the town of Shilong hosted an international event.