By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Team Philippines breached the 50-gold medal mark to maintain their fifth place standing at the close of the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia yesterday.
Jean Claude Saclag successfully retained his gold medal in the men’s kickboxing lowkick tournament in the under 63.5-kilogram weight division as he bested hometown bet San Rakim in the finals.
Fitzchel Martine Fermato settled for a silver medal finish in the women’s light contact 50kg category, while Renalyn Dacquel also placed runner up in the women’s full contact -48kg.
Jomar Balangui secured a kickboxing bronze medal in the men’s 57kg lowkick, Kurt Kubrica also placed second runner-up in the men’s 51kg lowkick, while Lance Villamer also had a bronze in the men’s 64kg class.
Female arnis exponent Ma. Ella Alcoseba snagged a gold medal for Team Philippines in the women’s full contact live stick contest in the bantamweight class, while Dexler Sandigan Bolambao also won a gold in the same weight class in the men’s division.
Jude Oliver Marie Rodriguez took home a silver medal in the women’s arnis 50-55kg class, while Niño Mark Talledo claimed a bronze medal in the men’s arnis 60-65kg category.
Cristina Vergara, 45 years old, surpassed hometown bet Sambat Vannak, 12-2, to capture the gold medal in the women’s wrestling -65kg, while her daughter Cathlyn ended with a bronze medal in the 59kg class.
Jean Mae Lobo ended with a silver medal in the women’s wrestling 72kg category, same with Jiah Pingot, who settled for a runner-up finish after dropping his women’s wrestling 50kg class gold medal.
Filipina grappler Grace Loberanes clinched a bronze medal in the women’s wrestling 55kg class, while Maribel Angana also took home a bronze medal in the women’s 53kg category.
Meanwhile, weightlifter Vanessa Sarno retained her gold medal in the women’s 71kg category after a 225kg total lift — a new SEA Games record of 105kg in snatch and 120kg in clean and jerk.
In fencing, the team of Samantha Catantan, Janna Catantan, Maricar Matienzo, and Justine Tinio won a bronze in the women’s foil team, while the group of Jian Bautista, Rex dela Cruz, Lee Ergina, and Noelito Jose also notched a bronze in the men’s epee team.
Team Philippines also got bronze medals from taekwondo courtesy of Laila Delo (women’s -67kg class), Jessica Canabal (women’s -53kg), Dave Cea (men’s 80kg), and Joseph Chua (men’s 63kg).
In judo, Team Philippines got three bronzes from John Ferrer (men’s 90kg), Leah Jane Lopez (women’s -48 kg) and Jeanalane Lopez (women’s -44 kg), the trio of Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste and Elly Jan Nituda provided another bronze medal in sepak takraw men’s doubles event and Abdul Barode also won a bronze in e-sports./ASC, WDJ