Cagers, spikers save RP day

SINGAPORE – Team Philippines suffered medal shutout in sports it had hoped to figure out well and had to lean on its cagers to stay in the hunt in Day 2 of the first Asian Youth Games here yesterday.

Lone diving competitor Natassia Marie Nalus placed fourth in the girls’ 3m springboard with a score of 281.75, finishing behind Korean Kim Nami (357.20), Macau’s Lei Sio I (350.45) and Chinese Liu Tian (342.15). 

Bowler Collins Jose failed to keep the momentum of a fine start as he sputtered in the end to finish ninth with 1291 points in the boys’ singles event at the Orchid Country Club.

In shooting, sisters Dianne Nicole (385 points) and Marie Isabelle Eufemio (366) finished way behind at 17th and 33rd places, respectively, in the girls’ air rifle 40 event.

But coach Robbie Hermoso said Nicole beat the minimum qualifying shot of 368 which earned her a spot in the Youth Olympics next year, also set here.

A twin kill in the Fiba 3-on-3 plus an opening round victory in girls’ beach volleyball events, however, kept Team RP’s bid alive in the week-long event for 14-17 year-old athletes.

Cris Mike Tolomia’s short stab in the final minute lifted the Philippines to a come-from-behind 27-26 win over a taller Iran side at the Anglican High School.

The RP cagers then posted an abbreviated 34-11 triumph over the Mongolians in the 2:25 minute mark in the second period. Under Fiba 3-on-3 rules, the game is stopped once a team scores 33 points.

The RP cagebelles, meanwhile, scored a walkover win over the Kazakhs, who like the Malaysians, backed out at the last-minute due to flu scare.

Spikers Alyssa Valdez and Kim Fajardo moved one win away from advancing to the next round after defeating the Sri Lankan pair of Nicanthika Yaddehi Gamage and Mudiyanselage Ilangakoon 21-18, 21-17, in girls’ beach volley.