The Philippines won its first medal in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games courtesy of the Sepak Takraw team which plucked the silver medal in the men’s chin lone linking event 3 at the Stadium Titiwangsa.
After training in Myanmar and quartering for four months in Dipolog City, the hard work and perseverance of the squad paid a handsome reward as it piled a score of 271 to finish behind the host country, which finished with a commanding 391 points.
“Chin lone is a subjective sport so it’s really difficult to beat the host country,” said Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero, whose wards made it to the finals after besting Brunei, 293-157.
Tanchanco-Caballero said they expect a couple of gold medals in regu events in the coming days, but they would rather keep it low key to avoid complacency.
“We’re seeing action in seven events, so yes, our hopes are high for additional one or two gold medals,” said Tanchanco-Caballero, the daughter of long-time sepak takraw chief Mario Tanchanco. “It just feels good that we are the first to deliver a medal for the Philippines.
We were quietly training for the past few months and we worked hard for this achievement.”
John-John Bobier, Rhemwil Catana, Emmanuel Escote, Ronsited Gabayeron, Joeart Jumawan, John Carlo Lee, John Jeffrey Morcillos, Regie Pabriga and Alvin Pangan comprised the squad.