Cyclist Lea Denise Belgira yesterday captured Southeast Asian Games cycling gold after winning gold in the mountain bike event at the Three Skulls trail in Laurel, Batangas.
Belgira topped the women’s downhill event, clocking in at just under four minutes, ahead of Indonesia’s Tiara Prastika and Vipavee Deekaballes of Thailand.
John Derrick Farr and Eleazar Barba, meanwhile, made it a double for the Philippines after clinching gold and silver medals, respectively, in the men’s downhill event.
In other events, Mike Banares, Jezebel Morcillo, Jesfer Huquire, Elmer Manlapaz, and Carloyd Tejada each won gold for the Philippines in arnis; while Jude Rodriguez and Billy Joel Valenzuela captured silver and Erlin Busacay took bronze.
Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabando won in dancesport, winning all five dance and single dance pasodoble, along with a silver in single dance jive. In addition, Debbie Mahinay added a bronze medal in the breaking girls’ event.
Monica Torres took home the gold medal in the women’s individual duathlon event, while Joey Delos Reyes took silver on the men’s event.
Edmar Tacuel delivered the country’s first gold medal in the pencak silat tunggal event, while Estie Liwanen nabbed gold in kurash as Jenilou Mosqueda won silver.
In men’s water polo, Romark Belo, Mico Anota, and Abnel Amiladjid clinched a silver medal, while Monica Chernoff, Kieran Bates, and Haden Bates took bronze in the women’s event.
In addition, Alisson Pertichento and Christopher Caluza each netted a silver in ice skating, John Fabiar Ceniza won silver in weightlifting, and Jones Inso Llaberes captured silver in wushu.
Meanwhile, Jan Emmanuel Garcia netted a gold medal in online chess but it does not count towards the overall tally since it is a demonstration sport.
The Philippines continues to lead the medal tally with 31 gold, 19 silver, and 10 bronze medals./ASC, WDJ