Obiena soars to history

NAGOYA – EJ Obiena soared to the Nagoya night sky as Asian Games repeat champion in record-breaking fashion.

On a rain-swept night at Mizuho Park Stadium, with gold already secured, the world-class Filipino pole vaulter could have walked away. He went higher instead.

Obiena had the bar raised to 5.91 meters – one centimeter above the 5.90 Games record he set himself in Hangzhou in 2023 – took aim down the runway and flew.

New Asian Games record. Back-to-back gold. Third gold for Team Philippines in the 20th Asian Games.

The two-time Olympian had missed twice at 5.80. He didn’t play safe. He went for broke at 5.91 and nailed it. Upon landing, he clutched his head, flashed a smile and ran straight to the Philippine gallery.

China’s Jie Yao and Li Chenyang settled for silver and bronze at 5.70 each.

It capped a golden-silver-bronze night for Philippine aces in Nagoya.

Fil-Am Victoria Bossong delivered the silver lining turned bronze, finishing third in the women’s 800m in her Asian Games debut.

Caught in traffic entering the final bend behind two Chinese and Bahrain’s Nelly Korir, Bossong tried to kick in the home straight but found the gap too much to overcome.

She timed 2:05.34 for bronze behind China’s Wu Hongjiao (2:04.49) and Korir (2:05.16), off her 2:02.34 clocking in the qualifications.

“I’m happy to be able to bring bronze to the Philippines. I hope it will be gold the next time,” said Bossong.

With John Cabang Tolentino’s bronze in the 100m hurdles three nights ago, that’s a bumper harvest for athletics – a gold, a pair of bronzes.

And the medals just kept coming yesterday.

Over at the sepak takraw court, Abegail Sinogbuhan, Jean Marie Sucalit and Nelly Jay Saron made history of their own. They fell to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly and Le Thi Hong Lien in the women’s regu final, but that silver is the first ever for the Philippines in women’s sepak takraw since the sport joined the Asiad program.

And what a road it was. Second in Group B after stunning host Japan, 2-1, blanking India, 2-0, and bowing to South Korea, 2-1, then sweeping Laos, 15-12, 15-10, in the crossover semis to secure a first-ever final.

It’s the second sepak medal in Aichi-Nagoya after the men’s regu bronze and the country’s third silver overall, joining Jean Claude Saclag in men’s traditional 65kg MMA and Gilas Pilipinas Women U23 in 3x3.

“This is something we yearned for the longest time,” said Sepak Takraw Pilipinas president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero. “I’m just so proud we finally achieved this. Nothing but great pride and honor.”

The players couldn’t hold back the emotions.

“Mixed emotions kasi hindi namin ine-expect na makaka-abot kami sa final,” said captain Sinogbuhan. “Talagang hiningi namin kay Lord na sana this Asian Games makakuha kami ng medalya kahit any color. Pero binigay sa amin ni Lord itong silver medal. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam.”

Added Sucalit: “Sobrang nag-flashback lahat ‘yung pagod, failures namin sa mga nakaraang competitions. Yung feeling na ang sakit sa part namin na tuwing uuwi kami ng Pilipinas, wala kaming dalang medalya. Ngayon awa ng Diyos may dala na kami. Silver pa.”

Add Siargao surfer Jayuard Alciso’s bronze from the Pacific Long Beach waves, and Team Philippines now stands at 3-3-12 in the medal table..

The Blu Girls kept the momentum going at Anjo.

After a nightmarish 0-2 start against Japan and Chinese Taipei, the Philippine women’s softball team strung together back-to-back wins – 7-3 over South Korea and a five-inning 7-0 run-rule rout of Thailand.

Mary Joy Laurente, MJ Alpitche and Sydney Vitangcol held Thailand to two hits, with Charlotte Sales capping it with a home run.

At 2-2, the Philippines is now inside the magic four. Up next is Singapore today, China tomorrow and Hong Kong on Friday. Top two play for gold, third and fourth dispute bronze – a medal that would be historic after three straight fourths in Incheon 2014, Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022.

Elsewhere, it was a tough day.

Alas Pilipinas Men bowed out 0-3 after a 25-21, 20-25, 17-25, 27-29 loss to Chinese Taipei, following defeats to South Korea and China.

In kurash, Nick Gabriel Ligero and Jackielou Escarpe fell in Round 1, leaving the Philippines without a medal in the Uzbek sport.

In men’s trap team, Hagen Topacio, Eric Ang and Antonio Joseph Javines combined for 328 for seventh after five rounds. Kuwait bagged gold with 355, Qatar silver with 349 and Kazakhstan bronze with 348.