A bowler and a women’s sports team added to the Philippine gold medal haul on Thursday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.
The two golds, however, were not enough to prevent the country from relinquishing third place in the medal standings to Indonesia.
Merwin Matheiu Tan came up with another brilliant performance to lead the men’s bowling team-of-four to victory.
Tan, who was crowned singles champion three days ago, submitted the day’s best score of 1411 pinfalls for a six-game average of 235.17 as the Philippines finished with a total of 5275 pinfalls in the tournament held at the Royal City Hanoi Bowling Centre.
Philippine Bowling Federation Secretary General Olivia “Bong” Coo said the team members never stopped praying.
“Their desire to give glory to God and make the country proud was greater than their fear of not making it or fear of losing. And with the grace of God, we prayed the rosary. I knew we were short on training but if God is with us, who can be against us,” said Coo, the four-time World Cup of Bowling champion.
Late Wednesday night, the Philippines won the esports Legends: Wild Rift (mobile) women’s team event, courtesy of the Sibol squad of Charize Joyed Doble, Rose Ann Marie Robles, Christine Ray Natividad, Giana Joanne Llanes, April Sotto, and Angel Lozada.
The Filipinas scored a 3-0 victory over the Singapore’s Ming Yan Wong, Yun Qin Chua, Valerie Ser Lee Seng, Jeslyn Si Hui Kweh and Shasha Xiang in the final match at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
Thailand’s Karnsinee Thanarthippiyapat, Pemika Rahman Tarani, Preeyawan Phuttachat, Kanokpon Parnpim and Thitma Namsiripongpan downed their Vietnamese opponents to settle for the bronze medal.
The Filipinos topped the group stage round-robin elimination to reach the best-of-five semifinal round where they scored a 3-1 victory over Thailand’s Karnsinee Thanarthippiyapat, Pemika Rahman Tarani, Preeyawan Phuttachat, Kanokpon Parnpim and Thitma Namsiripongpan.
Singapore demolished Vietnam, 3-0, in the other semifinal match.
Philippine Electronic Sports Organization (PESO) Secretary General Joebert Yu congratulated the team for a job well done.
“We’re glad that esport has finally contributed to the medal campaign of the Philippines. I am so proud of our athletes, they did their best and made the country proud,” Yu told The Manila Times on Thursday.
He said there are five more esports events left “and we’re hoping for more medals.”
Host Vietnam topped the PUBG Mobile individual event courtesy of Dong Ohan Van and League of Legends: Wild Rift Mobile men’s team event.
Thailand won the FIFA Online 4 (PC) team event, while Indonesia captured the gold in the CrossFire (PC) team event.
As of 8 p.m. Thursday, the Philippines totaled 40 gold medals, 57 silver medals and 76 bronze medals.
Indonesia jumped from fourth to third with 42 golds, 58 silvers and 55 bronzes, behind host Vietnam (150-89-81), Thailand (59-65-95).
Right behind the Philippines is Singapore which has a 40-41-52 medal count.
The tennis team is expected to boost the country’s gold count as top seeds Ruben Gonzales and Treat Huey advanced to the men’s doubles semifinals together with defending champions Jeson Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara.
Gonzales and Huey scored a 6-2, 6-2 win over Malaysia’s Hao Shen Koay and Syed Mohamed Agil Bin Sye Naguib at the Hanaka Sports and Service Center.
Source: JEAN MALANUM (The Manila Times)
