Gold rush in Chonburi

Shooters, Lifter, Wushu Bet, Runners strike

CHONBURI – Practically silent in the first six days, warriors waging battle in this coastal province brought out the big guns and made noise for Team Philippines yesterday.

Reigning world champion Rolly Nathaniel Tecson led a four-victory romp in practical shooting – for real and officially, this time – while world weightlifting championships bronze medalist Elreen Ando played true to form as the Chonburi cluster’s gold-hauling machine finally got going.

Wushu bet Jones Llabres Inso’s conquest of the Taijiquan-Taijijian event over in Bangkok and the sweep of the 800-meter races by middle distance bets Hussein Loraña and Naomi Cesar made it eight for the day – the largest single-day haul to date – and jacked up the total tally to 25 mints, 36 silvers and 82 bronzes.

This upgraded take vaulted the 1,600-strong contingent up to fifth in the medal race as of 8 p.m. last night, dislodging Malaysia (23-26-79), at the halfway point of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

Shooters on target

Fresh from his triumph at the IPSC Handgun World Shoot XX in South Africa, Tecson came out firing in the three-day shootfest and reigned supreme in his pet event, the Standard Division, scoring 100 percent.

His colleagues Edcel Gino (Production Optics), Erin Matter Nicor (Open Division Women) and Genesis Pible (Production Optics Women) were also on-target and joined the gold rush at the Eastern National Sport Training Center.

Evelyn Woods (Women’s Production) added a silver while Gerard Loy (Open Division), Arton John Lanuza (Production Division) and Stefanie Kathrene Lee (Women’s Standard) chipped in a bronze each.

The practical shooters gunned down the wins a day after the Thai organizers prematurely listed them among the gold winners Sunday. Upon discovering that competition will run until Monday, the Thais eventually rectified the mistake and removed Tecson and Co. from the winners’ circle.

With a fiery closeout, they entered their victories in the books.

“From the very first day up to the last, kinaya nating maging consistent and na-minimize natin mga errors kaya sobrang happy,” said Tecson.

Golden lift

The shooters’ feat came after Ando delivered weightlifting’s first mint at the Chonburi Sports School, with a 229-kg total lift built around 102kgs in snatch and 127kgs in the clean and jerk.

Ando had some tense moments when she fouled her first clean and jerk attempt at 123kgs, giving the crowd, including Olympic champ Hidilyn Diaz a bit of a scare. But Ando made good on her second try then sealed it with a 127kg final lift.

“Medyo malambot po siya sa clean and jerk pero pinaglaban ko din po, kailangan ko talaga kunin ‘yung gold para may gold tayo dito,” she said.

Taking the cue from Agatha Wong, Inso topped the men’s side of the Taijiquan-Taijijian at 19.563 points to complete a sweep for Team Philippines.

800-M run sweep

The golden haul continued through the night with Lorana topping the men’s 800-meter run at 1:48.80 and Cesar, younger sister of Filipinas mainstay Malea, duplicating the feat in the distaff side.

Team Philippines’ gunners in other fronts also showed their winning forms.

Tennis darling Alex Eala got off to a rousing start in the women’s singles, dispatching Malaysia’s Shihomi Long, 6-3, 6-1, to advance to the semis and secure at least a bronze. Eala later teamed up with Francis Alcantara to beat Singapore’s Daniel Abadia and We Choo, 6-4, 6-3, for a Last 4 ticket in mixed doubles.

After a sluggish start, Gilas Pilipinas unleashed a strong Robert Bolick-led finishing kick to turn back Vietnam, 78-67.

The Norman Black-coached Nationals, who opened their bid with an 83-58 rout of Malaysia, swept their way to the No. 1 spot in Group A for a straight entry to the semis.

Triumphs on the sand

Alas Pilipinas Women made a milestone in beach volleyball in Pattaya, reaching the finals for the first time after beating Vietnam, 2-0.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons of Philippines 1 edged Dinh Thi My Nga and Mai Hong Hanh, 21-18, 15-21, 15-10, while Team 2’s Sunnie Villapando and Floremel Rodriguez prevailed over Chao Ngoc Lan and Nguyen Le Thi Thong, 22-20, 19-21, 15-10, to en route to Alas’ fourth straight win.

Their indoor counterparts, however, missed out on the podium, after a 26-28, 25-13, 28-30, 24-26 loss to Indonesia in Bangkok.

In athletics, the reign of six-time men’s 400-meter hurdles king Eric Cray came to a bitter end as he finished seventh in his pet event at 54.67. Singapore’s Jun Jie Clavin Quek ruled in 50.27.

In men’s football, the U22 team failed to advance to a first-ever finals stint after yielding two late goals in a 0-2 heartbreaker to Vietnam. The booters will play for the bronze against either Thailand or Malaysia instead.

In rowing, Olympian rower Joanie Delgaco advanced to the finals of the lightweight women’s single sculls after checking in second during yesterday’s preliminary race at 9:14.970 behind Vietnam’s Ho Thi Duy (9:03.999). Delgaco previously qualified for the medal race in the doubles division with Kristine Paraon.

Also advancing to the finals were Egal Elias and Zuriel Sumintac (men’s double sculls), Van Maxilom and Renjie Penaredondo (lightweight men’s pair), and Amelyn Pagulayan, Feiza Lenton, Paraon and Ayona Huerto (women’s quadruple sculls).