By REYNALD MAGALLON
BANGKOK — Riding the crest of the Team Philippines’ biggest medal haul in a day on Monday, the Philippine rowing team sustained the surge with a gold medal courtesy of Paris Olympian Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon in the women’s rowing double sculls at the Jomtien Beach in Pattaya City, Chonburi, Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The Filipina duo started out strong and pulled away in the first 1000-meters and never looked back from there to pick up the country’s 26th gold in the biennial meet.
Paraon and Delgaco finished the race in 6:16.966 to beat Thailand and Vietnam bets by at least a four minute differential.
“Actually kagabi nakikita po namin na parang pahirapan pa yung bronze pero sabi ko sa sarili ko, grabe lang talaga pag si Lord na yung gumalaw talaga. Walang imposible talaga,” said Delgaco.
“Di po namin ineexpect tong gold namin na ito kasi po malalakas yung kalaban namin pero tiwala lang talaga sa isa’t isa at alam naman po namin yung pinagdaanan namin na training,” echoed Paraon.
Their triumph came just moments after Olympian Cris Nievares also delivered a bronze medal in the men’s single sculls.
He clocked 6:22.121 to finish behind Memo of Indonesia and Wattannusith Premanut of Thailand who bagged the gold and silver respectively with 6:10.257 and 6:15.827 times.
Also getting a shot at adding another gold medal for Team Philippines was Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala.
The 20-year-old made quick work of Thai bet Thasaporn Naklo, 6-1, 6-4 to assure herself a silver medal. It is already a huge improvement after only bagging a silver in the last edition of the Games in Cambodia two years ago.
Likewise, the Philippine men’s floorball team primed itself for a gold medal shot after defeating Singapore, 6-4 in Chonburi.
Entering the match as the heavy favorites, the world ranked No. 12 Filipinos stamped their class in the dominant victory to arrange a finals showdown with host Thailand.
In athletics, Sarah Dequinan is expected to land at the podium in the heptathlon event. The Filipina ironwoman is currently at the third spot with 4,620 points through six events. The 1,500-meter race is being held as of press time.
As of 2p.m. on Tuesday, the Nationals have collected 26 golds, 40 silvers and 82 bronzes for the sixth spot of the standings.
With the pace of PH athletes in the SEA Games, the target for Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino is to claim the fourth overall spot.
“With the tide obviously favoring the host in almost all fronts, the target is to get fourth overall,” said Tolentino
