NAKHON RATCHASIMA—The Filipino paddlers are living up to expectations and are competing as favorites for the gold medal in dragon boat’s (traditional boat race) men’s 1,000 meters Tuesday.

                The Filipinos edged the Indonesians via photo finish—3:56.71 to their opponents’ 3:56.85—for the fastest time in the heats of the event staged at the Mab Prachan Reservoir in Pattaya.

                “It was too close for comfort,” said Nestor Ilagan, head coach of the dragon boat teams. “Parang preview [of the finals] ang nangyari, kasi masayadong dikit ’yung Indonesia ang sadya naming binabantayan.”

                The women also advanced to the finals, although the easier way. There are only six entries in the women’s race—the others are Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam—thus all are automatically in the finals.

                The men’s team—skippered by Usman Anterola and composed of Sabijon Ruperto, Suhod Hakim, Rolando Isidro Jr., Ricky Sardena, Salvador Sumagsay, Alex Sumagsay, Jose Ijalo, Joemar Ocquina, Junrey Dayumat, Manuel Maya, Diomedes Manalo, Ramie Llano and Ric Nacional—are expected to shift strategy though come Wednesday’s finals.

                “Definitely, mag-i-iba tayo ng strategy. We are allowed three positions dahil freestyle naman ito, so mag-iiba tayo ng technique sa finals,” said Ilagan.

                Just how different their strategy would be, Ilagan explained, would focus mainly on the Indonesians. Myanmar and Cambodia topped their own heat to also advance to the gold-medal play.

                The wind has become a major factor in Tuesday’s heats. “Mabuti na lang at wala gaanong hangin. Kung meron man, diagonal, kaya okay pa rin. Dahil kung lumakas, ang tatamaan naman ay Thailand agad, dahil sila ang nasa outer lane. But the wind was good for everybody. Fair na fair ang laban kanina,” said Ilagan.

Victory Ride    

NAKHON RATCHASIMA—Save for the coaching staff and the rest of Team Cycling Philippines, no one saw it coming, officials of the Philippine delegation included.

Whether taekwondo still RP bailiwick to be known as jin action begins today

NAKHON RATCHASIMA—It’s the turn of the taekwondo jins to shoot for golds Wednesday and eyes are on Marie Antoinette Rivero who is eyeing a third straight mint in these 24th edition of the Southeast Asian Games.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA— Malaysia would hardly matter but just the same, the Philippine men’s basketball team is not taking any chances.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA—The Filipino paddlers are living up to expectations and are competing as favorites for the gold medal in dragon boat’s (traditional boat race) men’s 1,000 meters Tuesday.

SEAG Secretariat head Mundo trip to Kuwait with PSC blessing

Philippine Sports Commissioner Joey Mundo should attend to his responsibilities as head of Team Philippines Secretariat but instead he is in Kuwait on an “unspecified” official trip.

Lady golfers ahead; men fall to fourth

Mark Fernando rebounded from a lackluster first round but all others failed to produce the needed numbers that forced defending champion Philippines to skid down to fourth place and trail host Thailand by seven strokes halfway through the men’s golf competition in the SEA Games on Tuesday.

Work out with Manny, receive $1,000

MANNY Pacquiao better be ready once he starts his sparring sessions in preparation for his next fight.

In an interview with Sports Radio yesterday morning, American trainer Freddie Roach said he is now on the look out for a few but quality sparring partners for his prized ward.

Greenside Chip: Did Southwoods make the wrong call?      

FOR the fourth straight year, Manila Southwoods had a disappointing windup in another runner-up honor in the Fil championship division of the recent 58th edition of the Fil-Am Golf Invitational played in Baguio City. But despite the piling up of second-place finishes, the Cavite-based squad still created more noise than the overall champion Club Marinduque.