The student and coach team of Earl Yap and Ian Chipeco, whose victorious partnership rocked the Philippine National Games last month, followed up their successful run with two more gold medals in the 2013 Thailand Princess Cup archery championships.
Yap, a 2011 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, snared the individual open gold then joined hands with his 17-year-old protege Chipeco to secure the men’s team gold in the indoor event held in Bangkok.
Chipeco, who created quite a stir when he bagged three gold medals in the PNG against members of the national team, also placed third in the individual open class.
Representing Denel Archery Club, Yap and Chipeco hope to prevail in a few more tourneys and eventually secure slots in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Burma (Myanmar).
“We have high hopes especially on Ian because he was able to stand his ground against national players,” said Yap who won a silver in individual compound in the 2011 SEAG aside from the team title.
Yap said Chipeco is now at par with the country’s best archers.
“He is pound-for-pound one of the best we have right now, and given the breaks I know he can deliver,” added Yap, who lost the gold medal to Chipeco in the PNG Olympic round.
The PH archers are consistent winners in the SEAG with Amaya Paz winning the women’s individual compound gold in 2007. Archery wasn’t played in the 2009 Games.