Filipino rowers bow to Myanmarese, Indonesians at SEA Games

The traditional boat race teams of Myanmar and Indonesia proved just too strong for the Filipino teams Wednesday in the 24th SEA Games being held in Thailand. The Filipinos fought all the way, even using the standing position on the boat, but had to settle for a silver medal in the men's 10-crews, 1000-meter event, losing the gold medal to Myanmar, according to a report issued on Wednesday by the Philippine delegation/ The Myanmarese achieved a clocking of three minutes, 50.55 seconds, putting to shame the Filipinos' 3:54.98 and third placer Indonesia's 3:57.13. The women's team also had a breathtaking race in the same event, going wire-to-wire in the same long distance, only to lose by a breadth to eventual gold winner Indonesia and silver winner Thailand. It was a spirited photo finish that drew loud appreciative cheers from the sizeable crowd. The Indonesian paddlers clocked 4:22.36, Thais 4:22.66, and Filipinas 4:22.92 seconds. Those losses halved to two the Filipinos's remaining titles they won in the last SEA Games in Manila. Philippine head coach Nestor Ilagan, sporting a gracious grin of concession rather than the histrionics of a sore loser, readily acknowledged Myanmar's sheer grit in the men's division and Indonesia 's equally-admirable resolve in the distaff side. "Malakas 'yung bulusok talaga ng Myanmar (in men's side)," Ilagan said. "Ang Indonesia (women's side) ay talagang naghanda yan sa atin para matalo tayo. And so there's no one to blame but us." The women's team had some trouble, Ilagan said: "Yung sa women's sinunod naman yung plan na huwag papalayuin ang mga kalaban kung makauna man sila (rivals). Up to 750 meters to 800 meters, pukpukan, sabay tayo ng sabay. Pero nitong last 50 meters, may dalawang tao tayo na nadulas sa bangka. Talagang sa breaks lang nagkatalo sa women's." But the men's team really had to bow to the stronger rowers from Myanmar. "Pagdating sa mga lalaki, from start to finish pinatayo ko na sila sa bangka, kasi allowed naman kami ng free style sa positioning sa bangka. Pero talagang nahirapan silang habulin ang Myanmar," Ilagan said. All is not lost for the RP paddlers, who will set out Thursday in the heats of the 500-meter in the men's side while the women take a rest before doing some workouts at the tournament venue for Friday's finals in the same event. The traditional boat races were held in Mab Prachan Reservoir in Pattaya. - GMANews.TV