A 27-year-old fencer, Jylyn Nicanor, gave the Philippines its first gold for fencing at the 30th Southeast Asian Games, after topping the women’s individual sabre at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Nicanor claimed crucial hits in the second round to outclass Indonesian foe Diah Permatasari, 15-14.
Nicanor earlier got past her Thai opponent and 2017 bronze medalist Tonpan Pokeaw, 15-9 in the semis and had to claw her way back from a 5-8 deficit in the final against Permatasari.
She joined Fil-Japanese bets Kiyomi Watanabe, Shugen Nakano, skateboarders Margielyn Didal and Daniel Ledermann in snaring gold medals on Day 5 of the biennial meet.
Watanabe gave the Philippines its second gold medal in judo after ousting Myanmar’s Chu Myat Noe Wai with an ippon in the -63kg category in the judo competition at the Laus Group Event Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Nakano turned the tables around on Indonesia’s Budi Prasetiyo to rule the -66kg category.
The 22-year-old took down Prasetiyo with just 17 seconds to claim the gold, and improve on his bronze medal finish two years ago.
Didal and Ledermann unravelled difficult tricks to secure the first two gold medals in skateboarding’s debut in Tagaytay City.
The 20-year-old Didal, who is the reigning Asian Games champion in the street event, outpointed compatriot Christiana Means.
On the other hand, Ledermann leaned on experience to prevail over 12-year-old Indonesian Basral Hutomo, allowing the Philippines to complete a two-gold sweep.
Jermyn Prado gave the Philippines its third gold medal in cycling after she claimed the women’s individual time trial title.
The 26-year-old Prado, registered a time of 44 minutes, 44.742 seconds in the 23.1-kilometer event from Nasugbu, Batangas to the Praying Monument in Tagaytay City.
Luo Yiwei of Singapore settled for silver after reaching the finish line some four seconds behind, in 44:48.518.
Somrat Phetdarin of Thailand took the bronze in 44:58.152.
“I gave my all. It was too hard, but our sacrifices paid off. I’m happy,” said Prado, a native of Pagbilao, Quezon.
Golds in modern pentathlon came from Ormoc City standouts Princess Arbilon and Samuel German in the mixed relay beach laser-run portion at the Subic Bay Boardwalk.
Arbilon, who finished fourth in the women’s individual event earlier in the day, and Samuel, won silver for his division, clocked in at 13 minutes and 59.54 seconds to outclass the field of five.
In judo, Shugen’s twin brother Keisei clinched bronze in the men’s -73 kgs after slipping an ippon over Myanmar’s Koq Ram Sai Aung with just 1:28 minutes.
Gilbert Ramirez turned back Laos’ Chitskon Xayasan to clinch silver in the -81kg category.
In the women’s -52kg, Khrizzie Pabulayan ousted Vietnam with an ippon to settle for bronze.
In swimming, Singapore took three of four gold medals at stake on the second day of the event at the New Clark City aquatic center in Capas, Tarlac.
Filipina bet Jasmine Alkhaldi clocked 29.79 seconds, to finish behind women’s 50-meter backstroke winner Elena Pedersen of Singapore, who took the gold in 29.4 seconds.
As the Games entered their fifth day, lawmakers said they would raise at least P10 million from their salaries as additional perks for Filipino gold medalists in the ongoing 30th SEA Games.
“As a concrete manifestation of the commonality of the goal to bring honor and pride to the country, the leaders and members of the House of Representatives deem it proper to deduct individual pledges from their salaries for January 2020 as additional incentives to Filipino gold medal winners in the 30th SEA Games,” House Resolution 568 authored by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and several House leaders including Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said.
The House leaders said that by winning gold medals in their respective sports in the 30th SEA Games and for bringing great honor and pride to the Filipino people, it is fitting to grant these athletes the additional incentives from the POC and the House of Representatives.
The Philippine Olympic Committee will also give additional incentives to Filipino gold medal winners. With Maricel V. Cruz
