THE country’s bets failed to make the semi-finals of the 29th SEA Beach Volleyball Championships last week at Palawan Beach, Sentosa, Singapore.
On Day 1, Sept. 28, Thailand’s Rumpaipruet Numwong and Khanitta Hongpak trounced Khanitta Hongpak and Bernadeth Pons, 2-1. The Thai pair later defeated the other Filipino ladies’ pair Fiola Ceballos and Patty Jane Orendain in the quarter-finals to advance to the semis. Pons and Rondina also bowed out to Indonesia’s Dhita Juliana and Putu Utami in the quarterfinals.
The lone Filipino men’s pair of did not fare well either. Anthony Lemuel Arbasto and Jude Garcia lost 2-0 to Candra Rachmawan and Mohamad Ashfiya of Indonesia.
Teams from Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia moved into the semi-finals.
Rondina, however, said that there were valuable lessons learned. “We were very down after losing,” she said, “but there is a reason behind everything and we now have gathered a lot more experience which we can bring back to the Philippines.”
Pons said, “We didn’t have any expectations coming here, knowing the competition is strong. We just made sure to give our best and we did!”
We are proud of our kababayan’s efforts and are sure that their exposure to opponents from other countries will serve to hone their skill.
The tournament was organized by the Volleyball Association of Singapore, a non-profit organization established in 1961 to “advance the professional development of, and increase interest in and access to, the sport in Singapore.”
Singapore was also the venue of the recent Merlion Cup, one of the country’s programs to develop home-grown and regional talents in basketball.
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Lakan won the 3rd leg of the Road to the Marho Breeders’ Championship Classic at Santa Ana Park last Sunday (Oct. 1). There were only five runners in the 1,800-meter race. The placers were, in order, Bite My Dust, Heiress of Hope, Hot and Spicy, and Subterranean River. The winner stopped the clock at 1:50.4 (13’-23’-24-24-25’).
The Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners has traditionally held its annual championship races every November. This race is one of several that tests the capabilities of horses that may be entered in the Marho races.
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Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer and researcher. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste