Philippines gets shot at Winter Games medals

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines yesterday earned cracks at a breakthrough Asian Winter Games medal courtesy of curlers Marc Pfister and Kathleen Dubberstein and speed skater Peter Groseclose in Harbin, China.

Pfister and Dubberstein missed out on an outright medal after they succumbed to world champions Tori Koana and Go Aoki of Japan, 10-2, in the mixed doubles semifinals.

The Filipino pair, however, still has a crack at the country’s first medal in the quadrennial games, a bronze, if it beats the loser in the ongoing semis duel between host China and South Korea.

Groseclose, 17, advanced to the semis of the 1500 meters as well as the quarters of the 500m in the men’s short track speed skating at the HIC Multifunctional Hall.

The Winter Youth Olympics veteran will also eye a quarterfinal ticket to the 1000m event.

“I’m excited to have started my Asian Winter Games campaign on such a strong note, advancing through the semifinals and quarterfinals in all events,” said Groseclose.