Crack rowers, riders launch gold-medal drive in Pattaya

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – The enduring trio of Benjie Tolentino, Jose Rodriguez and Alvin Amposta try to duplicate their three-gold medal haul in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games as competitions in rowing get going today in the world-famous Pattaya beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand in the south.

Pattaya, one of the country’s top tourist destinations, is also hosting canoe-kayak, equestrian, sailing, windsurfing, traditional boat race and triathlon.

The Philippines is hoping to strike hard in the resort city in Chonburi province with possible gold mines in rowing and traditional boat race where the RP team cornered nine golds, one silver and three bronzes back in 2005.

Olympian Benjie Tolentino is back to defend his title in the lightweight single sculls, the men’s pair in partnership with Rodriguez and the lightweight men’s double scull in tandem with Alvin Amposta.

Other RP rowers vying for honors are Joel Bagasbas, Nestor Cordova, Nilo Cordova, Lakambini Alto, Nida Cordova, Miolle Gabiligno, Cleothilde Nillas and Johnalyn Pedrita.

The traditional boat race team that swept all six gold medals in Manila in 2005 remains as the team to beat, but the competition is now reduced to a four-event affair – the 500 and 1,000m race for men and women.

 Making up the men’s boat race team are veterans Usman Anterola, Junrey Dayumat, Suhod Hakim, Jose Ijalo, Rolando Isidro Jr., Ramie Llano, Diomedes Manalo, Manuel Maya, Ric Nacional, Joemar Ocquiana, Ruperto Sabijon, Ricky Sardena, Alex Magsaysay and Salvador Magsaysay.

In the ladies team are Ivory Ablig, Jinky Agustin, Marietta Alba, Amina Anuddin, Leonita Banlat, Mary Neth Bechayda, Stephanie Deriada, Sanita Kasim, Maridel Manaban, Joy Ann Nero, Alejandra Orola, Maria Aileen Padrones, Ruditha Poralan and Maria Theresa Realizan.

The RP equestrian team features new faces, but hopes are high they could match or surpass the team’s 1-1-1 gold-silver-bronze showing in Manila.

Marie Antoinette Leviste, Daniella Virata, Diego Martin Lorenzo and Mateo Rafael Lorenzo compose the show jumping team while Fernando Vittorio Barba, Steven Cesar Virata and Jill Natalie Irene Lopez compete in eventing.

Completing the RP delegation in Chonburi are canoe-kayak bets Norwell Cajes, Danny Funelas and Jeremiah Tambor, sailors Teodorico Asejo, Ridgely Balladares, Rafael Buitre, Rommel Chavez, Melvin delos Santos, Mark Gil Francisco, Richly Magsanay, Patrick Mata, Joel Mejarito, Lester Troy Tayong, Emerson Villena, Erickson Villena, Rosario Amadeo and Leahnnie Tayong, windsurfers Bobby Coveta, Geylord Coveta, Reneric Moreno and German Paz and triathletes Augusto Benedicto, Arland Macasieb, Ryan Mendoza, George Vilog, Allesandra Araullo, Analiza Dysangco, Ma. Melissa Gayle Luicas and Anna Marissa Nagtalon-Remigio. – Nelson Beltran