JEAN CLAUDE SACLAG CLAIMS FIFTH GOLD
Kickboxer Jean Claude Saclag defended his SEA Games gold medal in the men’s 63.5kg low kick after beating Chaleamlap Santidongsakun of Thailand in the finale.
Saclag clinched the Philippines’ fifth gold medal of the SEA Games as the national kickboxing team delivered a bunch of medals.
Earlier, Zephania Ngaya, Gretel de Paz, Renalyn Dacquel, and Claudine Veloso all won kickboxing silvers.
GINA INIONG NAILS KICKBOXING GOLD
Kickboxer Gina Iniong added to the Philippines’ gold medal haul after reigning in the women’s 60kg low kick final against Waraporn Jaiteng of Thailand.
Iniong is now a two-time SEA Games champion as she also struck gold in the women’s 55kg kick light in the 2019 edition.
(READ: Saclag, Iniong nail kickboxing golds in SEA Games)
ROUGH START FOR GILAS WOMEN 3X3
Gilas Women 3×3 got off to a rough start in their gold repeat bid after ending the first day of women’s 3×3 basketball with back-to-back losses.
Opening the tournament with a 21-5 mauling of Cambodia, the Philippines absorbed an 18-21 defeat to host Vietnam and a 14-21 loss to Thailand.
The Filipinas tote a 1-2 record with three more games to be played on Saturday.
(READ: SEA Games gold bid for Gilas Men, Women 3×3 hits snag)
CARLOS YULO DEFENDS ALL-AROUND GOLD
Gymnastics star Carlos Yulo retained his gold medal in the men’s individual all-around event of artistic gymnastics.
The heavy favorite, Yulo tallied 85.150 points to beat out home bet Le Thanh Tung of Vietnam, who tallied 84.050 points for the silver.
Yulo missed out on a double gold in the men’s all-around as the Philippines settled for silver in the team event, garnering 301.600 points to finish behind champion Vietnam (331.250).
(READ: Carlos Yulo defends SEA Games all-around gold, PH bags silver in team event)
PH MEN’S FOOTBALL BOWS OUT
The Philippine men’s football team crashed out of contention in the SEA Games after ending the group stage with a crushing 0-4 loss to Indonesia.
Fizzling out in a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to Myanmar three days ago, the Azkals U23 slipped to fourth place in Group A with 4 points built on 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
Only the top two will advance to the semifinals.
GILAS MEN 3X3 ABSORB FIRST LOSS
The title-retention bid of Gilas Men 3×3 hit a snag as they absorbed their first loss following a stunning 13-15 defeat to Indonesia in their final game of the day.
Wasting a 6-3 lead against the Indonesia, the Filipinos wrapped up the first day of the 3×3 tournament with a 2-1 record.
Led by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jorey Napoles, Gilas Men 3×3 earlier beat Cambodia, 19-7, and Thailand, 21-16.
(READ: SEA Games gold bid for Gilas Men, Women 3×3 hits snag)
JACK ESCARPE WINS KURASH GOLD
Jack Escarpe captured the Philippines’ second gold medal in the SEA Games after ruling the men’s kurash -73kg event.
The national kurash team has won a total of 8 medals: 1 gold, 3 silvers, and 4 bronzes.
(READ: Escarpe reigns in kurash)
PH WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL OFF TO ROUSING START
The Philippine women’s volleyball team kicked off its SEA Games campaign in style with a 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 sweep of Malaysia.
Jaja Santiago, Cess Molina, and Alyssa Valdez all delivered as the Filipinas notched a win after losing all their matches in the 2019 SEA Games.
(READ: PH off to promising start in SEA Games women’s volleyball after Malaysia sweep)
(HIGHLIGHTS: 31st SEA Games women’s volleyball – Philippines vs Malaysia)
PREVIEW
The Philippines’ quest for more medals in the Southeast Asian Games goes full blast on Friday, May 13, after Vietnam formally opened the regional showpiece.
Olympian Carlos Yulo has his eyes set on another SEA Games performance to remember when he sees action in the men’s artistic gymnastics.
The Philippines’ most bemedaled athlete in the 2019 SEA Games, Yulo will compete in the men’s individual all-around qualifying round and men’s team all-around final on Friday.
He is expected to contend for podium finishes – and even deliver at least four golds, according to gymnastics chief Cynthia Carrion-Norton – after pocketing two golds and five silvers in the previous SEA Games.
Also set to start their respective campaigns are the Philippines’ 3×3 basketball, women’s volleyball, tennis fencing, wushu, and esports teams, to name a few.
The Philippines will defend its double gold in 3×3 basketball and will try to secure its first podium finish in women’s volleyball since 2005.
Six more medals will be added to the Philippines’ haul as Jean Claude Saclag, Gina Iniong Aras, Renalyn Dacquel, Gretel De Paz, Zeph Ngaya, and Claudine Veloso vie for kickboxing golds in their respective classes.
The Philippines currently sits at fourth place in the medal table with 1 gold, 5 silvers, and 5 bronzes.
– Rappler.com
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