Ramirez heads gymnastics team to SEAG

Roel Ramirez, a gold medalist in the Vietnam SEA Games, will again be at the forefront of the country’s campaign in gymnastics in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games to be held in separate venues in the country in November.

Ramirez, who also won a silver medal in the America Cup held last month, lead 19 other gymnasts who made it to the national team roster after passing the national ranking meet held over the weekend at the Gymnastics Center at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Ramirez actually tied in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics for the top ranking with Brydon Sy, a bronze medalist in Vietnam, on identical scores of 48.725. He placed second in the horse vault (9.425) and parallel bars (7.70). Sy, on the other hand, was no. 1 in the rings (7.75) and parallel bars (8.20) and was second in floor exercise (8.25) and horizontal bars (8.00).

Joining Ramirez and Sy in the MAG squad are Al Ramirez , 3rd (47.675), Ronnie Ramirez, 4th (41.0250, Jovin Estera, fifth (38.275) and Kris Matthew Lombridas, sixth (38.05).

In the WAG, Vietnam SEAG veteran Emille Christa Santos topped the ranking with a total score of 31.600, followed by Cintamoni de Guzman (29.450), Patricia Paraso, 3rd, (29.345), Kristine Raissa Saguisag at 4th (28.975). Vietnam SEAG bronze medalist Danielle Phoebe Espiritu settled for fifth, (27.250) while Ma. Virginia Acuña took the last and 6th spot with a score of 24.200.

An all-rookie team will comprise the rhythmic gymnastics team, composed of Danica Calapitan, who emerged no. 1 after compiling 66.429 points, Carla Dionisio, second (65.292), Ma. Corazon Canlas, third (64.366) and Sheryl Contillo, fourth (59.681).

In sports aerobics, Marlon Capati, who saw action in Vietnam, led in the ranking with 20.88 points, followed by Allena Rius, 20.72; Carmendo Ensomo, third, 20.27 and Jennylo Gacula, fourth, 19.60.

"These are strong teams capable of winning at least eight to nine gold medals of the 18 at stake in the competition in the SEA Games. But they will have to train harder in the next few months for them to sharpen their skills further," said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Noel Buenaventura.