By JONAS TERRADO
Kyle Redentor Antolin, Kaizen dela Cerna, Monolito Divina and Deanne Nicole Moncada ruled the mixed team assist 400-meter x 12 event while Diana Buhler, Jeffrey Reginio, Klymille Keilah Rodriguez and Nathaniel Sanchez won the mixed team relay 400 meter x 12.
Rochelle Suarez topped the women’s individual 100 meter x 10 event even as Kevin Jeffrey Pascua captured the men’s individual 100 meter x 10 category.
The team is gunning for a sweep of the sport’s first appearance in the biennial meet on Friday in the men’s individual 5-kilometer x 20 division.
Antolin, Dela Serna, Divina and Moncada clocked at three minutes and 48.35 seconds to beat Malaysia’s Mohd Redha Rozlan, Pittli Mohd Saddam Mohd, Teng Yip Hui and Jie Yi Tan by 40.93 seconds.
Buhler, Reginio, Rodriguez and Sanchez completed the course in 1:59.56, edging Malaysia’s Rozlan, Wei Theng Yoong Salfarina Mohd Drus and Tan by 2.12 seconds.
Suarez crossed the line in 46.70 seconds to defeat compatriot Milky Mae Tejares, who settled for silver with a time of 47.88 seconds.
Pascua added to the country’s gold medal haul in 29.92 seconds with Rozlan placing second at 34.01 seconds.
The Philippines also picked up one bronze courtesy of Mark Julius Rodelas in the men’s individual 100 meter x 10 after topping Malaysia’s Yoong in 32.94 seconds.
TOUGH MISSION
Meantime, a mix of young bloods and veterans will try to end the four-year gold medal drought of the Philippines both in the recurve and compound events when the archery competition opens Thursday at the Clark Parade Grounds in Pampanga.
The 16-man national team will be bannered by 2014 Asian Games bronze medalist Paul Marton dela Cruz together with 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold medal winner Gabriel Moreno and Olympian Jennifer Chan.
The medal match and awarding will be held on Dec. 8 and 9.
Dela Cruz will lead the men’s compound team together with Johan Olano, Roberto Badiola and Arnold Rojas, while the four-man recurve squad is composed of Moreno, Florante Matan, Jayson Feliciano and Carson Hastie.
The 54-year old Chan, a three-time SEA Games gold medal winner, will lead the women’s compound team alongside Andrea Robles, Rachelle Ann dela Cruz, and Abbigail Tinugduan while women’s recurve team will have Kareel Hongitan, Pia Bidaure, Phoebe Amostoso and Gabrielle Monica Bidaure.
