Lifters chip in silver, bronze

MANILA, Philippines — While still awaiting for Hidilyn Diaz to plunge into action, Team Phl banked on John Fabliar Ceniza and Mary Flor Diaz to break the ice in SEA Games weightlifting competitions at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Ceniza bagged the silver in men’s 55 kg division with 112 kilograms in the snatch category then 140 in the clean and jerk.

He finished with a total of 252 as against the 264 of gold-medal winner Thanh Lai Gia from Thailand.

The 21-year-old Cebuano failed in his final two attempts at 153 kilograms which could have propelled him to the top.

“Masaya na ako dun kahit hindi ko nabuhat. Inasahan ko na bronze lang (pero) ginawa ko talaga lahat ng makakaya ko,” he said.

Mary Flor Diaz, cousin of Hidilyn, won the bronze in women’s 45 kg division event. 

Diaz, a Philippine National Games find, picked up 70 kilograms in the snatch category before pushing for 89 kilograms in the clean and jerk category to finish with 159, behind Vietnamese gold-medal winner Vuong Thi Huyen (172) and Indonesian silver-medal winner Lisa Setiwaiti (169).