MANILA – The Philippines secured its second gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand after its women’s swimming team won the 4×100 relay on Wednesday.
The team, composed of Olympian Kayla Sanchez, Heather White, Chloe Isleta and Xiandi Chua clocked in 3:44.26, more than two seconds away from silver medalist Team Singapore and Team Vietnam, who took the bronze.
Justin Kobe Macario delivered the first gold for the Philippines after topping the men’s individual freestyle poomsae event of taekwondo at the Fashion Island Shopping Mall.
Action got going in almost all fronts a day after the games opened in glitzy rites, with Macario, 23, earning the distinction of giving the Philippine delegation a big shot in the arm in the regional showcase that was reduced to 10 countries with the withdrawal of the Cambodian delegation.
A statement issued by Vath Chamroeun, chief of the Olympic Committee of Cambodia, explained the delegation’s withdrawal, saying: “Due to serious concerns and requests from the families of our athletes to have their relatives return home immediately, NOCC must withdraw all of our delegation and arrange for their prompt return to Cambodia for safety reasons.”
The two countries are in the midst of a conflict in a border area just eight kilometers from the SEA Games venue.
The Philippines also bagged two golds on the first day of action on Wednesday with Gian Christopher Santos snatching the silver medal in the men’s 200m medley and The trio of Rodolfo Reyes, King Nash Alcairo and Ian Corton captured silver in the men’s recognized poomsae event.
Earlier in the day, John Derrick Farr clinched the bronze in the men’s downhill mountain bike event in Chonburi, giving Team Philippines its first medal here.
Two more bronze medals, one each in men’s sepak takraw and taekwondo, gave the Philippines a 1-0-3 count at press time in the medal tally, good for third overall, with host Thailand expectedly leading with an 8-5-1 count, followed by Myanmar (2-2-0).
In women’s 3×3 action, the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 women squad paid a dear price for a flat start, dropping a 15-21 loss to Indonesia at the Nimbutir Stadium here.
Reynalyn Ferrer sank two free throws that knotted the count at 14-all with 2:54 to go, but the Indonesians used a 7-1 windup to frustrate the Pinay belles and kick off their drive on a rousing note.
The Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team plunges into action on Thursday, battling powerhouse Thailand at 6:30 p.m. (Manila time) in Pool A action at the Huamark Indoor Stadium.
In the tourist spot of Pattaya, Rianne Malixi banners the Philippine golf team that goes into action also on Thursday at the Siam Country Club.
Malixi is joined by Junia Gabasa and Grace Quinanilla in the biennial competition, a year after she won the U.S. Girls Junior and U.S. Women’s Amateur.
The men’s team is composed of Chris Remata, Rolando Bregente, Perry Bucay and Shinichi Suzuki.
Expectations are high for the Pinoy golfers competing in the individual and team events. (PNA)
