By MARK REY MONTEJO
Mitz Jalandoni put on an amazing show and saved the country from a gold medal-less campaign with her triumph in the Bebas (solo creative) category of the 9th Asian Pencak Silat Championships in Ha Tinh, Vietnam.
Combining grace and power, Jalandoni outshone India’s Disha Reddy and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Yen Linh to claim the gold medal.
She paired with Shara Jizmundo in the Ganda double division but the duo fell short and settled for the runner-up finish.
Jizmundo snared her second silver in the Tunggal (Solo) class which was part of the 18 medals won by the PH team in the 10-country event.
Other silver winners for the Philippines were Kram Airam Carpio, (Female Tanding Class A), Dines Dumaan (Male Tanding Class B), and Maricel Dela Torre (Female Tanding Class D).
Producing bronze medals were Harold Ralph Ungaya, Cyrell Covon, Allimar Campos, Alvin Campos, Stephen Suazo, Angeline Virina, Hanna Mae Ibutnande, Jessa Dela Cruz, Ziara Oquindo, Fatima A-isha Hamsain, Mary Justine Acat, and Alfau Jan Abad.
Host Vietnam hoisted the overall champion trophy after nailing 17 golds, 4 silvers, and 7 bronzes followed by Malaysia (7-3-4), and Indonesia (4-3-2).
