MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Eric Cray further underscored his worthiness in representing the country in the Southeast Asian Games as he re-arranged the 110-meter hurdles mark he himself recorded even as Jessie Khing Lacuna splashed his way to a fantastic nine-gold medal haul on Saturday in the PSC-POC Phl National Games at the Philsports Oval in Pasig City and Rizal Swimming Center.
Cray, 25, overcame the challenge put up by former record-holder Patrick Unso as he clocked 14.17 seconds to bag the gold and shatter the 14.22 he set in the morning heats two days ago that duplicated the then unrecognized mark he arranged in the UNF Springbreak Invitational on March 5 a couple of years back.
Unso, son of former 80's track star Renato who previously owned the old mark of 14.58 he set in the 2011 SEAG in Palembang, Indonesia as Cray's record was then unrecognized, didn't go out without a fight running the race of his life with an equally impressive time of 14.21, which was eventually good enough for the silver.
Unso's brother, Jose, wound up third and with a bronze in 15.00.
Cray is eyeing no less than representing the country in the Asian Championships in India, World Championships in China and in the Myanmar SEA Games this December all this year.
Lacuna, a 20-year-old Pulilan, Bulacan native, was equally spectacular as he splashed his way to four more golden swims to emerge as the most be-medaled athlete in the annual games with a whopping nine mints.
Lacuna, who won six in the Bacolod City edition two years ago and five in Dumaguete City last year, added the 100-meter butterfly, 200-m individual medley, 50-m freestyle and 100-m breaststroke to his earlier gold collection to reach the nine-gold mark, a first in the history of the multi-sports meet that is being done to show the national team's SEAG readiness as well as discover some new talents.
An incoming freshman, Lacuna clocked 58.62 seconds in 100m fly, 2:13.39 in thw 200-m IM, 24.64 in the 50-m free and 1:11.55 in the 100-m breast.
"It's really my goal to win nine golds and I'm glad I achieved it," said Lacuna, who is seeking to particpate in the Asian Indoor Swimming Championship in Korea next month.
While Lacuna lorded it over the men's side, PNG rookie Hannah Dato reigned supreme in the women's division where she wound up with five golds, the last in the 200-m IM.
"I hope to make it to this coming SEA Games that's why I gave it all," said the 19-year-old Dato, who stopped competing for a year before returning to training just for the PNG.
The PNG is backed by Ayala Corp., Summit Mineral Water, Bala Energy Drink, STI Colleges, Splash Islands, Enchanted Kingdom, LBC, 7-11, TV5, AKTV, Milo, Procter and Gamble, Peak/Kix, Tea Monkey, Standard Insurance Corporation, Delos Santos Medical Center, Spin.ph, Everlast and BSP Employees Association.
Over at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the Phl Air Force dominated volleyball with an emphatic sweep of both the men's and women's golds.
The Airmen edged reigning Inter-Collegiate and UAAP champion National U, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22, for the men's gold while their women's counterparts turned back Cagayan Valley, 21-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18 to complete a twin kill.
In baseball at the Rizal Diamond, Philab denied Air Force another gold with a 10-3 triumph for the gold.