HIDYLIN Diaz broke her jinx in the SEAGames PH 2019 last Monday night, ruling the women’s 55-kilogram division of weightlifting in impressive fashion to highlight another stellar outing of PH campaigners on several fronts.
In front of packed and animated crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Diaz, 28, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, lifted a total of 211 kilograms for her first gold medal in the regional sports showcase after previous outings fell short.
It was the latest accomplishment of the petite and pretty Zamboanga City class, including a gold medal in last year’s Asian Games and two bronze medals in the recent world championships held in Bangkok Thailand.
Arnis continue to produce golden returns as it added five more gold medals to prop up the hosts on top of the overall medal tally for the second straight day.
After winning 13 early Monday night, Team Philippines improved its two-day gold output to 35 on top of 19 silver and 10 bronze medals and continued to pull away from closest pursuers Vietnam (10-17-14) and Thailand (10-2-7).
Basketball and mountain bike made Monday more special after completing a sweep of the 3×3 and downhill events, respectively, while pencak silat, duathlon, and triathlon also added a gold each.
Led by Elmer Manlapaz, the Filipino arnis warriors dominated the men’s padded stick by winning three of the gold medals at stake while two others on the distaff side topped their respective events on the second day of action at the Angeles University Foundation in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Manlapaz ruled the featherweight class, Jesfer Huquire was tops in bantamweight, and Carloyd Tejada in the welterweight category. Sheena Del Monte won the women’s bantamweight padded stick and Jedah Mae Soriano the women’s featherweight padded stick.
The surge sustained arnis’ first day romp, which saw the country’s national sport winning a total of five gold medals.
In all, the arnis warriors had won a total of 10 gold medals, matching the same output of dancesport athletes last Sunday.
In basketball, the quartet of CJ Perez, Mo Tautuaa, Chris Newsome, and Jason Perkins sparked Gilas Pilipinas to the inaugural men’s 3×3 gold by whipping Indonesia in the finals 21-9, capping its unbeaten campaign.
The women’s side of Afril Bernadino, Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, and Clare Castro got back at elimination round tormentor Thailand to win the gold 17-13.
Cyclists John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira scored a twin kill in the mountain bike downhill that set the tone earlier for another gold rush for the Filipinos.
Edmar Tacuel delivered the first gold for pencak silat with a win in the men’s seni tunggal singles event, while Monica Torres topped the women’s duathlon individual event.
Triathlon contributed its third gold medal as Kim Mangrobang and Claire Adorna teamed up with Fernando Casares and John Chicano to rule the mixed team relay at the Subic Bay boardwalk. It was the second gold for both Mangrobang and Chicano, who ruled the men and women’s triathlon, respectively, on Sunday.
There were silver medals along the way, too.
Billy Joel Valenzuela emerged a win short in the men’s padded stick (lightweight) of arnis, Celedonio Tayao settled for a runner-up finish in the benchcrest air rifle as shooting competitions got underway at the Marine Corps Center, and so did Eleazar Barba who finished second in the men’s mountain bike downhill race.
In pencak silat at the Subic Bay Exhibition Center inside the Subic Freeport Zone, Edmar Tacuel of Tubungan, Iloilo bagged the gold in the men’s seni tunggal (forms) event at the Subic Bay Exhibition Center here.
Tacuel garnered 470 points in winning the gold. Singapore’s Muhammad Iqbal bin Abdul Rahman settled for silver with 461 points while Indonesian Dino Bima Sulistianto pocketed the bronze 461 points.
“Happy ako na nakakuha ako ng gold medal,” Tacuel said. “Pinapasalamatan ko lahat ng coaches, teammates, mga taga IloIlo, salamat sa panalanagin ninyo. sa buong Pilipinas salamat lahat sa inyo.”
See more >>> New sea games rule adopted in ph hosting