Arriola, Thomas, Stuart form powerful SEAG team

STA. CRUZ, Laguna, Philippines – Donovan Arriola and Brandon Thomas joined fellow Fil-Am Caleb Stuart in the SEA Games-bound Philippine team, winning the long jump and century dash golds, respectively, in the National Open-Invitational Athletics Championships at the Laguna Sports Complex here yesterday.

Arriola, 24, rallied from third to first with a 7.59m jump in his sixth and final leap to snatch the gold from College of St. Benilde’s Julian Reem Fuentes and Team Rio’s Benigno Marayag, who were battling it out for top honors before the former University of Texas-El Paso standout found his rhythm in his last jump and spoil the local aces’ bid.

Fuentes ended up with a silver with 7.55m while Marayag took the bronze with a 7.43m jump.

“I had a hard time getting into the groove. Good thing I got into rhythm in my last jump,” said the 6-1 Arriola, who actually competed in last year’s Philippine National Games but fell short of his bid with hamstring issues.

The 24-year-old Thomas, on the other hand, bucked a hamstring pull in the final 20m and ruled the 100m dash in 10.80 seconds, edging Eddie Edwards Jr. of Sabah, Malaysia and Rodquian Maulion of Arellano University, who checked in second and third in 10.89sec and 11.03sec clocking, respectively.

Thomas, who ran for US NCAA Division I Texas State University, fell and rolled on the rubberized track after crossing the finish line.

But it was all worth the pain as Thomas made it to the SEAG-bound 4x100m relay squad alongside fellow Fil-Am Eric Cray, Brian Mercado and another runner.

“It’s what I’ve hoped for,” said Thomas, whose mother Rowena Quero is from Makati.

Like Thomas and Stuart, who swept the hammer throw and shot put golds Thursday, Arriola clinched one of the two berths in long jump in the national contingent vying in the SEA Games in Singapore this June.

Arriola offered his victory to his late sister Raquel, who passed away last year.

“This one’s for her,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marestella Torres, in her first competition since bombing out from last year’s Incheon Asian Games, took the long jump gold in 6.47m, besting University of Baguio’s Khay Santos (6.25m) and Team Rio’s Felyn Dolloso (5.49m).

“Physically, I’m okay. The only thing I lack now is confidence,” said Torres, 34, in Filipino. 

Myanmar SEAG gold medal winners Christopher Ulboc of Air Force and Archand Christian Bagsit stamped their class in their favorite events to run away with the gold medals. 

Ulboc ruled the 3,000m in 9:09.73, besting Team Rio’s Rene Herrera (9:11.91) and TMS Ship Agencies’ John Rey Moreno (9:49.21).

Bagsit, the best performing athlete in Myanmar with golds in 400m and 4x400m relay, found some stiff challenge this time but still topped the field in 47.26, besting Air Force’s Edgardo Alejan (47.28) and Ryan Bigyan (47.43).

The event is organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Laguna Water, Pacific Online Scratch It KaskaSwerte, Papa John’s Pizza, Foton Philippines, PCSO, Smart, PLDT, Summit Natural Drinking Water and supported by SSS, Pagcor, Milo, Gatorade, L Time Studio and Asics Watch.