RP team captures international sepak overall crown

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The Philippines opened its campaign with a whimper but masterfully ended it with a bang to emerge No. 1 in the International Invitational Sepak Takraw Championships-second Mayor Edward Hagedorn Cup Tuesday at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

With two gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes, the Filipino takrawers, powered by Puerto Princesa’s RP-A squad, ran away with the overall title of the pre-23rd Southeast Asian Games event.

Vietnam salvaged a second gold medal at the expense of the Manila-based RP B squad in women’s doubles Tuesday, but could only muster two bronzes to wind up second overall ahead of Malaysia (1-1-0 gold-silver-bronze), Myanmar (1-1-0) and Korea (0-1-2).

"The tournament is a resounding success," said Hagedorn. "We achieved our goal, which is to win the overall championship, and we were able to show that we are on track in our preparation for the coming SEA Games."

The two RP gold medals came in hoop events Monday, with the men’s RP-B contributing, and so were two of the three silvers. The bronzes were reaped from women’s regu and women’s doubles, both of which were by RP-A, the team that is based in Puerto Princesa under the care of Hagedorn.

"Umpisa pa lang ito. Our athletes will be training even harder sa mga susunod pang araw to win our first gold medal come the SEA Games," said Gen. Mario Tanchanco, president of the organizing Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association.

The RP-B women’s team of Deseree Autor, Eden Bernardo and Karah Elizabeth Festin yielded to the more experienced Vietnamese, 0-2, in the women’s doubles finals Tuesday.

Gelyn Evora, Irene Apdon and Rhea Padrigo, the same crew that mesmerized the local fans with difficult kicks in bagging the hoop gold medal, beat guest team Korea, 2-1, to settle for the doubles bronze medal.

As a result of the impressive showing of the RP-A takrawers, coach Camilo Apdon has asked Hagedorn to support their exposure in an international invitational tournament in South Korea in August.