Rowing team eyes more golds this time

NAY PYI TAW – A four-man rowing team paddles into action today, hoping to come up with a strong start and a stronger finish in the 27th Southeast Asian Games here.

Bannered by veterans Benjie Tolentino and Nestor Cordova, the squad kicks off its campaign at the Ngalike Dam, looking to surpass its solitary gold medal finish in the previous SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

According to team manager Quintin Pastranas, the squad has the materials – and the experience – to achieve its goal after coming up with a decent finish in the Asia Cup in Hong Kong followed by a rigid training in Shanghai, China.

The squad will be competing in four of the nine rowing events with Cordova expected to pluck a gold medal in the men’s singles sculls as well as Tolentino and Edgar Ilas in the men’s doubles sculls.

“The most important thing is for us to have a strong performance early on,” Pastranas said. “Kailangan malinis ang simula kasi du’n pa lang magkakagulo na iyan. We all have equal chances. It only depends on how we will start.”

Pastranas mentioned Thailand, Indonesia and, of course, Myanmar as heavy contenders.

“But all of them are capable of winning,” he said. “Almost all teams have foreign coaches so the level of competition is quite high. It’s only up to us on how we can cope up.”

Also included in the team are Alvin Amposta and Roque Abala, who will be joining Tolentino and Ilas in the men’s lightweight fours.