Changing of guards: Filipino young guns to the fore

NAYPYITAW—A new, younger batch of heroes came to the fore for Team Philippines at the 27th Southeast Asian Games that ended here Sunday night, providing the country a strong foundation in the future as it tries to move on from its worst finish.

If it’s any consolation, some of the standout performers for the lean PH delegation were either first-time champions or just in their teens, signaling a changing of the guard in different sports.

Trackster Archand Christian Bagsit, 22, and 16-year-old golfer Princess Superal emerged as the only double-gold winners for the country, but there were several sensational performances from young turks on different fronts, particularly in judo, taekwondo, boxing and archery.

“It’s nice to see our young athletes step up to the challenge here,” said Team Philippines chef de mission Jeff Tamayo.

Swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi, 20, did come up with a couple of bronze medals, but her show of sportsmanship when she competed in the reswim ordered by the jury—after she was already awarded the gold—had officials beaming with pride.

The lanky Bagsit, who used to play high school basketball, struck gold in the 400m, before pulling off a phenomenal run as anchor of the champion 4x400m team that also included Isidro del Prado Jr., Edgardo Alejan and Julius Nierras.

Christopher Ulboc, 23, also took the mantle from long-time SEA Games steeplechase king Rene Herrera with his golden effort in the 3,000m event.

“This is a new generation of athletes,” said the 34-year-old Herrera.

Ulboc, who paid tribute to the veterans for guiding them, is a first-time champion, just like 400m hurdles king Eric Shaun Cray and Jesson Cid, who became the first Filipino to rule the decathlon since Fidel Gallenero in 2001.

Superal won the individual gold, while powering the country to glory in the team event together with fellow SEA Games rookies Mia Legaspi and Katrina Briones.

The men’s poomsae trio of Marvin Gabriel and brothers Dustin and Raphael Mella delivered a golden performance, contributing to taekwondo’s 4-gold, 4-silver, 7-bronze haul.

Archery showcased youngsters Delfin Adriano and Ian Chipeco, who joined forces with Earl Yap in clinching a second straight compound gold for the country.

The 18-year-old Chipeco, who only picked up the sport two years ago when he joined Yap’s camp, shot one of the three 10s that powered the Filipinos past Malaysia in the finals.

Adriano also responded to the challenge with a perfect score as the country’s final shooter in the finals.

Judo’s Kiyomi Watanabe made heads turn with his impressive performance. Only 16 years old, the Filipino-Japanese ended the reign of a Vietnamese three-time champion by prevailing via ippon in the -63 kg gold-medal bout.

Boxing produced a first-time champion in Mario Fernandez, a 21-year-old son of a driver from Bukidnon, who stunned a favored Thai in the bantamweight class.