CHANGZHOU, CHINA—Under steely gray skies, the Cobra Energy Drink Philippine dragon boat team confidently worked its way on the brackish waters of Wujin Taihu Bay with each stroke getting weighty as the paddlers negotiated the length of the 500-meter course.
“We need to load more power and go for longer strokes,” said men’s coach Ambrosio Gontinas Jr. after the team pulled out of the water upon testing the 20-seater standard boat.
This will be the type of race plan the Filipinos will employ plus the desire to win against the world’s best when they plunge into the qualifying races of the International Dragon Boat Federation World Cup today.
“The field is definitely strong. This tournament is by invitation only, meaning you have to perform well in the world championship to qualify here,” said Philippine Dragon Boat Federation president Marcia Cristobal.
Aiming to keep the standard boat mixed 100m and 500m titles they won in 2014, the Pinoy paddlers have set their sights on the overall crown this time following the team’s second overall performance behind host China in Fuzhou two years ago.
At that time, the Philippines was a gold medal shy of tying the Chinese, who wound up with three gold medals, one silver and a bronze.
The Filipinos, whose participation here is backed by Cobra Energy Drink and Philippine Airlines, will race in all five events—standard mixed 100m, 200m, 500m, 1000m circuit and 400m team relay.
Tough field
They’ll have to contend with 11 other countries led by race favorites Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Canada and two teams from China as host country.
Paddlers from Germany, Great Britain, Macau, Hong Kong, Russia and Australia have also arrived in this quaint town by the lake.
“Our team is mentally and physically prepared. We just have to adjust to the conditions out here,” said women’s coach Ma. Ailene Padrones.
Unlike the salty waters of Manila Bay where they usually train, Gontinas said they would have to abandon their usual short, quick strokes that generate speed.
“You can do quick strokes on salt water. Here, it’s going to be useless because the water is heavy,” said Gontinas. “We have to focus on power when we paddle.”
Team members
Veterans Edward Balbuena, Alberto Hugo, Nelson Dela Noche and Alex Sumagaysay shared the same sentiment as well as seasoned female paddlers Jean Roma Naing, Honelyn Leonardo, Charmaine Ong, Mitchelle Faye Pagulayan and Julie Ann Biadness.
Other members of the 28-man Philippine delegation are paddlers Alejandra Orola, Emilou Babanto, Florence Caro, Honradt Almonte, Jeffrey Dela Cruz, Jerby Deriada, Josette Deriada, Josua Apoya Fuentes, Lana Rita Yap, Lovelyn Robosa, Mary Ann Huganas, Mary Neth Bechayda, Noelle Cristina Wenceslao, Joseph Acosta, Rolando Isidro Jr., and PDBF officer Rowena Enriquez.
Wearing their patented lemon yellow Cobra Philippine team jackets, the paddlers arrived in Shanghai from Manila late Wednesday afternoon and traveled for almost four hours by bus going to the Zhushan Lake Townlet Hotel, some 200 meters from the competition area of the three-day race.
They immediately plunged into training early yesterday morning, doing warm-up exercises for almost 30 minutes before riding the boats under the chill of a steady drizzle along the shores.
“We’re used to the hot weather in Manila. We should do more warm-up exercises before we race because of the cold weather,” said Padrones.
According to Cristobal, the team was assembled right after the AFP-PNP Olympics almost two weeks ago and had to train three times a day on the shores near Manila Hotel before packing up for the big race.
“You can see that other teams have an advantage because they can ride their boats with lesser weight,” said Cristobal. “But we all know the heart of the Filipino. We fight even if the odds are against us.”