SEA Games: PH snatches bronze in traditional boat race

SINGAPORE — The Philippine women’s traditional boat race team snatched a bronze medal Saturday in the Southeast Asian Games before a big crowd in front of the gleaming and stylish Marina Bay Sands here.

Powered by Ma. Eucelia Manatad, Ella Fe Niuda, Rosalyn Esguerra, Rea Glore, Glaiza Liwag and Patricia Bustamante, the PH paddlers could only finish third behind a very strong Thailand crew which bagged the women’s six-crew 200-meter gold.

Thailand clocked one minute and 6.930 seconds to win the gold, stunning favorite Burma which placed second with a time of 1:07.092. The Filipinos checked in 1:07.992.

Thailand also won the men’s side of the race as the Thais and the Indonesians scored two golds each in the day’s four events.

The Philippines was fifth in the men’s division, the same place they finished in the 12-crew 200m event. The PH women’s 12-crew team failed to make the finals.

Head coach Len Escollante said they are still happy with the performance of the crews and considers their potential in the coming years.

The Filipinos, the youngest team in the tourney with an average age of 18-years-old, will return to the water Monday in the 500m races.