BACOLOD CITY—With national players outplaying, outhustling and outmaneuvering their rivals, a coach joined the fun and outwitted the opposition en route to victory in men’s beach volleyball at the University of St. La Salle sand court in the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games.
National assistant coach Parley Tupaz teamed up with national squad mainstay Angelo Espiritu in winning the men’s title, 21-14, 21-14, over Cebu City’s Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria.
The participation of Tupaz, also a member of the Ateneo coaching staff, was a result of a shuffle among regular pairings on the national team. Arnel Amadeo decided to see action with Buensoceso Sayson, hoping to reprise their victory in a corporate-sponsored tournament in Boracay. But the pair wound up joint third with Amadeo’s regular partner Henry Pecana and fellow national pool member Melvin Fabro.
Although the performance proved Tupaz still has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the nationals, the 38-year-old coach admits focus should still be on the younger athletes, stressing the need to discover more talent who can match their Southeast Asian (SEA) rivals’ skills and size.
“Makakatulong mayroong malaki, para makapagsabayan sa blocking sa SEA Games,” said Tupaz.
The women’s national team had a hiccup in the title showdown against a pair from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) but managed to hold ground—the experimental pairing of Michelle Laborte and Nerissa Bautista edging Maruja Banticla and Judy Ann Caballejo, 21-14, 19-21, 15-11.
Nationals Aiza Maizo and Jovelyn Gonzaga, the regular partners of Laborte and Bautista, respectively, wound up joint third with Hannah Olina and Salamatu Yushawu of Foundation University of Dumaguete.
The upset-conscious Tigers were also satisfied with their performance despite falling a bit short of their target.
“Talagang kulang sa preparasyon,” said UST coach Emil Lontoc, noting that Banticla moved from indoor to beach volleyball only recently.
“May chance sana. But considering ’yung ipinakita nilang laro tapos tinalo pa nila ’yung Philippine team B at ’yung nag-champion ’dun sa recent tournament sa Boracay, hindi masama para sa kanila,” Lontoc added, referring to the Gonzaga-Maizo and Olina-Salamatu pairs, respectively.
Huelgas proves tough
TOP triathlete Nikko Huelgas suffered major dehydration but still managed to win by a good margin on Sunday in the event staged in Silay and Talisay.
The 20-year-old Huelgas felt pain in his stomach right in the swim leg and struggled throughout. He was being attended to by the medical staff and was being prepped for travel to the hospital when George Vilog checked in.
Huelgas negotiated the 1.5-km run, 40-km bike and 10-km run in two hours, 11 minutes and 18 seconds with splits of 22:35-1:04:1944:24.40, while Vilog finished in 2:13:05 with fraction times of 24:09:00-1:05.56-43.0. Benjamin Rana was a distant third in 2:17:29.0 (28:27-1:06.04-42:58.0).
Huelgas was in his best form in the recent Subic International Triathlon and admitted he would have felt real bad and even embarrassed had he lost so he soldiered on despite losing too much body fluids. He got back the nutrients through IV and was back on his feet although he failed to make it back in time for the awarding ceremony.
Kim Mangrobang also asserted her supremacy as multititled female triathlete and completed the course in 2:31:29 with splits of 23:56.00-1:15:16.00-52.17.00. Mirasol Abad clocked 2:43:52 (35:08.00-1:20:06.00-48.38.00) and Michelle Benedicto timed 3:28:20.00 (41.02.00-1:38:29.00-1:08.49.00).
Highlanders shine in wushu
THE wushu artists from Baguio City shone brightest by going 1-2 in several categories.
Kariza Kris Chan and Mari-Ngay Santiago went 1-2 for Baguio in the women’s 19 to 30 tai jian, scoring 8.85 and 8.67, respectively, while Teresa Jo Anne Blancaflor of Iloilo placed third with an 8.15.
Daniel Parantac and Michael Angelo Marcelo were also given the highest scores in the men’s contest, getting 9.35 and 8.74, respectively,
In the nan dao and dao shu freestyle, the Baguio bets were also adjudged best two, with Thornton Quieney Sayan getting 9.1 points and Denver Parantac getting 8.85. Jai Jagannath Tamayo placed third with 8.84 points.
It was a sweep for the highlanders in the girls 13 to 18 dao shu and nan dao, with Natasha Laxamana, Tiffany Chan and Alecxis Gomez taking the podium spots, while it was another 1-2 in the male jian shu in the same age category with Kiethley Chan and Dustin Chan getting scores of 9.05 and 8.51, respectively, with Wudi’s Tate Mathew Chuang getting the bronze with a 8.48.
The fighting Anganas also asserted their supremacy in wrestling at the Bacolod Arts Center.
Asian Games veteran Jerry Angana bagged the gold with a victory over Raymond Carlos of Quezon City in the 55-kg freestyle, while Jimmy and Joseph went 1-2 in the 66-kg category.
Roque Mana-ay Jr. topped the 60-kg event, Miguel Alo won the 74-kg class, Jason Balabal ruled the 84-kg division, Walden Carbonel was tops in the 96-kg category and Francis Villanueva emerged victorious in the 120-kg class.
IN PHOTO -- Kim Ma ngroba ng (above) winning the women’s triathlon is not surprising, but having a motorcycle race on the national games (purportedly for Olympic, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games sports?) program is. --NONOY LACZA
