KUALA LUMPUR—The Philippines clinched its first medal—a silver—in sepak takraw that got going ahead of the opening ceremony of the 29th Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday at the Stadium Titiwangsa.
The silver in men’s chin lone linking event 3 came as a surprise for the Philippines, which hardly dented the armor of its rivals in the sport indigenous to the region.
The host Malaysians won the gold medal with 391 points to the Filipinos’ 271.
The medal, according to Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association President Karen Tanchanco-Caballero, was the result of the athletes’ rigid training in Myanmar and being confined to quarters for four months in Dipolog City.
“Chin lone is a subjective sport so it’s really difficult to beat the host country,” said Tanchanco-Caballero, whose wards made it to the finals after beating Brunei, 293-157.
Tanchanco-Caballero said they expect to win gold medals in the regu events in the coming days, but they would rather stay low key to avoid complacency.
“We’re seeing action in seven events, so yes, our hopes are high for additional one or two gold medals,” said Tanchanco-Caballero, the daughter of long-time sepak takraw chief Mario Tanchanco. “It just feels good that we are the first to deliver a medal for the Philippines.
The team is composed of John-John Bobier, Rhemwil Catana, Emmanuel Escote, Ronsited Gabayeron, Joeart Jumawan, John Carlo Lee, John Jeffrey Morcillos, Regie Pabriga and Alvin Pangan.
The Philippine campaign in other fronts on Wednesday also yielded medals.
Paul dela Cruz nipped Zulfadhli Ruslan, 10-9, in a thrilling shootoff to salvage bronze in men’s individual compound of archery at the Synthetic Turf Field inside the KL Sports City in Bukit Jalil.
After 50 arrows, Dela Cruz and Ruslan, a silver medalist in the 2015 Singapore Games, were tied at 144, paving the way for the single-arrow shootoff.
Picked to shoot first, Dela Cruz calmly shot a 10 while his Malaysian rival could only muster a 9 to clinch his first SEA Games individual bronze medal after sharing team bronze honors in Singapore.
Amaya Paz-Cojuangco, a two-time women’s individual compound champion, had an off day and failed to go beyond the quarterfinals.
Emerging victorious in the first three days of competition are the men’s and women’s football squads.
The men’s U22 squad exacted revenge against Cambodia, 2-0, while the women’s team shocked the hosts, 2-1.
Reymart Cubon delivered a right-corner kick in the 53rd minute before Filipino-Japanese Belgira Kouichi volleyed a free kick in the 73rd minute to help the Filipinos post their first victory in Group B.
Team captain Patrice Imelido and Camille Reyes, meanwhile, starred in the Malditas’ overwhelming triumph over the Malaysians in the five-team, single round series late Tuesday at the Shah Alam Stadium.
The medals in sepak takraw and archery and victories in football soothed the disappointment in water polo where the Philippines dropped a 7-8 setback to the Malaysians.