38 reasons to smile: RP improves on SEA Games finish

There are 38 reasons for Team Philippines to smile by the end of its campaign in the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). The figure represents the number of gold medals the Filipinos won at the conclusion of the Dec. 9 to 18 biennial meet, which Vientiane, Laos hosted for the very first time.

While it improved RP’s finish by a notch, after the country placed sixth in the 2007 edition of the biennial meet in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand (43 golds), it should be noted that the Filipino athletes came down fighting before settling for fifth. Their gold medal output was just two shy of the 40 won by fourth place Malaysia, and five behind third place and 2011 SEAG host Indonesia (43). The RP athletes were actually in a position for a possible third place finish entering the final day of the region’s biggest sporting conclave, but only have the fortune of winning a single gold medal – courtesy of Cecil Mamiit in men’s singles tennis – to lose grip of their hope of finishing just behind powerhouse countries Thailand and Vietnam in the overall medal tally. Just the same, a modest finish such as this one achieved by a delegation of 251 athletes who competed in 24 of the 28 events at stake, is good enough to bring a positive effect for Philippine sports in the year about the end. Actually, there could have been more if not for missed chances, and missed opportunities. A couple of gold medals slipped past the Filipinos’ hands, notably those of Efren “Bata" Reyes and Django Bustamante in men’s 9-ball doubles, Dennis Orcollo in men’s 9-ball singles, Henry Dagmil in men’s long jump, the men’s poomsae team in taekwondo, Harry Tañamor in the light-flyweight class in boxing, Sheila Mae Perez in diving’s 3m springboard event, Ryan Arabejo in the men’s 200-m backstroke and Mamiit and Treat Huey in tennis’ men’s doubles. And then, there’s the case of the ill-fated cycling team. Recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) but lacking the necessary licenses to compete as required by the International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI), the Filipino cyclists were barred from seeing action in the SEA Games. Not even a letter of request signed by all 11 member countries of the SEA Games Federation was able to convince the UCI to grant temporary licenses. All 12 cyclists were refused entry into the competitions, except veteran Maritess Bitbit, who had been issued a license by the UCI since she’s both been recognized by the two warring groups (one allied with the POC, and the other, with UCI) contesting the leadership of the cycling association. Unfortunately, the POC decided to withdraw Bitbit from her events as a sign of support for her banned teammates. At the close of the meet, Bitbit said she could have won two gold medals in the women’s downhill and road race, the event she topped in the 2007 Games. Indonesian Risa Suseanty ruled the downhill event, while Jutatip Maneephan of Thailand did the same in road race, whose winning times, according to Bitbit, were slower than her personal best. A big distraction too, was the raging dispute between the country’s top sports officials as the situation seemingly drew a wedge between those funded and supported by the PSC and by those whose allegiance is to the POC. Yet despite the agitation, there was no denying the Filipino athletes of their glory and triumph. There were the double gold medal feats of swimmer Miguel Molina, golfer Chihiro Ikeda, cue artist Rubilen Amit and netter Mamiit to cheer about. Molina runaway with the gold in the 200-m and 400-m individual medley, Ikeda annexed the individual title and steered the ladies squad to the team title in golf, Amit emerged queen in both 8-ball and 9-ball singles, while Mamiit ruled the men’s singles for the third straight time and teamed up with Treat Huey in bagging the gold in men’s team. Athletics distinguished itself as the sport with the most number of gold medals for the country with seven – two of them came in record breaking fashion through hammer thrower Arniel Ferreira and long jumper Marestella Torres. Take a bow ladies, Annie Albania, Alice Kate Aparri and Josie Gabuco, the boxing team was the next to win more golds after athletics with five, followed by taekwondo with four behind two-time Olympians Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go, and the swimming squad of Molina, also with four, including two new Games records established by Daniel Coakley (50-m freestyle) and Ryan Arabejo (1500-m freestyle). Delivering golds in their own humble way were surprising wrestling and billiards with three each, tennis, wushu, judo and golf with two, while with one each are muay, karatedo, archery and shooting. Those winning at least a bronze each were diving, weightlifting, pencak silat, water polo, sepak takraw, table tennis and petanque. Of the gold medalists, coming as surprises were the marathon sweep completed by Eduardo Buenavista and Jhoan Banayag and the Angana brothers of wrestling (Jimmy – 66 kg – and Maragarito – 55 kg), while heartwarming were the victories pulled off by oldies but goodies, Nathaniel `Tac’ Padilla of shooting (25m rapid fire), archer Jennifer Chan (women’s individual compound) and judoka John Baylon (81 kg-and-under). – GMANews.TV