By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Gymnast superstar Carlos Yulo produced gold and silver medals while cousin John Ivan Cruz finally got a piece of the limelight as they anchored Team Philippines to a three-gold show early Tuesday, May 9, in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.
Stung after his defeat in rings competition, Yulo put on a show in parallel bars to cap the team’s remarkable showing for the day.
Also winning for the gymnastics team was Juancho Miguel Besana who topped the vault event at the National Olympic Stadium.
Victories by Cruz and Besana gave Yulo extra motivation as he tallied 14.850 to beat Vietnamese Phuong Thanh Dinh (14.400) and Malaysian Ng Chun Chen (13.100) to become the first Filipino double gold medalist in this edition.
“Nung nag-gold na sina Ivan at Miguel, gusto kong maka-gold din ngayon para tatlo na mauwi namin,” said Yulo.
Determined to emerge from the big shadow of Yulo, Cruz reigned in his event after posting 13.850 while Besana dominated the vault in 14.425.
Besana is hoping to add horizontal bar gold to his collection at press time.
“Hindi ko po ma-explain yung pakiramdam ko ngayon. Sobrang hirap ng buhay, andami ko pong pinagdaanan. Hindi ko po akalain na aabot ako sa ganito,” said Cruz on his biggest win in his career.
As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Team PH dropped from third to fourth place with 22 gold, 31 silver and 36 bronze medals with host Cambodia lording over the leaderboard with 37 gold, 34 silver and 34 bronzes.
Vietnam is at second with 30-29-40, followed by Thailand (30-24-36).
Yulo immediately acknowledged his defeat, saying the Vietnamese delivered a higher degree of difficulty in his routine, which became the turning point in their scoring.
In vovinam, Aime Impas Ramos bowed to Myanmar’s Hnin Thet Wai, 4-3, to settle for the bronze medal at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, Team PH sits dropped from third ti fifth place with 20 gold, 31 silver and 36 bronze medals with host Cambodia lording over the leaderboard with 37 gold, 31 silver and 33 bronzes.
Vietnam is at second with 29-29-39, followed by Thailand (28-23-34) and Indonesia (22-19-43).
