By REYNALD MAGALLON
BANGKOK — Peter Groseclose bagged a gold and a silver as Team Philippines started the penultimate day of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with a bang at the International Ice Skating Training Center in Samut Prakan on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Groseclose nabbed the silver in the men’s 1500-meter short track speed skating and then just minutes after plucked the gold in the men’s 500m event.
The Filipino speedskater admitted that it was a huge motivation for him that he only finished with a silver in his first event and he was raring to bounce back in his next race.
“I really want to get better. Obviously a silver is not terrible but it was a really big motivation,” said Groseclose.
“I am very happy and proud. This is my first SEA games so I am proud to represent the Philippines well. And I’m very happy with this result,” he added.
Groseclose’s victory was a good start to what has been a busy day for the Nationals with three boxers, two Gilas Pilipinas teams and one beach volleyball team still fighting for gold medals at press time.
Aira Villegas settled for a silver after dropping a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Chuthamat Raksat in the women’s 50-kilogram class.
Earlier, the Philippine triathlon team bagged a silver medal courtesy of 19-year-old Kira Ellis in the women’s individual triathlon event. On the men’s side Andrew Kim Molino and Fer Casares bagged the silver and bronze medals
Likewise, Shyra Mae Aranzada finished with a silver in the women’s division of the Modern Pentathlon.Also finishing third is the women’s floorball team which essayed a pulsating 3-2 victory over Malaysia.
As it stands, Team Philippines has 42 golds, 61 silvers and 131 bronzes good for the sixth spot. It is still within striking distance against Malaysia (48 golds) and Singapore (50 golds) at the fifth and fourth spots respectively.
