Hectic SEA Games day: Solid gold prospects get going

PALEMBANG, Indonesia—Filipino athletes, led by former world champion Rubilen Amit, veteran javelin thrower Rosie Villarito and diver Sheila Mae Perez, continue their quest for medals Sunday as action goes full blast at the 26th Southeast Asian Games here.

Amit, the 2009 Women’s World 10-Ball titlist and three-time SEA Games champion, opens her campaign in the 8-ball singles eliminations while Villarito defends the title she won two years ago in Laos.

Also bidding to assert her supremacy in the women’s 3-meter springboard is Perez, a three-time SEA Games winner. Joining her is Ceseil Domenios as well as D’xisme’n Dumagut and Rexel Fabriga in the men’s 10m platform.

Also seeing action in the athletics competitions at the Jakabaring Sports City are Eduardo Buenavista in the 10,000m run, Sheena Atilano in the 100m hurdles, and Julius Nierras and Archand Christian Bagsit in the 400m.

Swimming continues with Charles Walker entered in the men’s 200m freestyle, Jessi King Lacuna in the men’s 100m butterfly, Johansen Aguilar and Banjo Borja in the men’s 50m breaststroke, Banjo Borja and Jose Joaquin Gonzales in the men’s 400m individual medley, and Dhorothy Grace Hong in the women’s 200m backstroke.

The men’s and women’s singles finals of petanque get under way with Michael Corporal and Mary Grace Munar carrying the country’s colors.

Gymnasts Anna Francesca Cruz, Hannah Finnegan, and Amanda Louise Alejandrino vie for medal in the women’s artistic team event.

Seeing action in the men’s English billiard singles quarterfinals are Luis Saberdo and Felipe Tauro Jr.

The men’s team of George Soo, Jehran Chua, Ceferino Carreon Jr., Romulo Virola, Jimmy Soo, Francisco Alquiros gets going in bridge qualifying, along with the women’s team of Gemma Mariano-Tan, Victoria Egan, Mylene Encontro, Rosemarie Unson, Sylvia Alejandro, Mary Cristy Ann de Guzman.

Chess competition continues with rounds 3 and 4 in the mixed team standard where Grandmasters Wesley So and Oliver Barbosa, Catherine Pereña and Rulp Ylem Jose are entered, as well as the men’s standard Asian event with So, and Barbosa taking part and the men’s rapid blindfold with Rogelio Antonio and John Paul Gomez competing.

Qualifying matches will be held in sport climbing and the women’s regu of sepak takraw.

The Philippines also starts its quest for the softball title when it tackles Singapore at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in Manila).

Over in Jakarta, the Philippine football team, coming off a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Laos Saturday night, slugs it out with rock-solid Myanmar, needing a win—plus a miracle—to cling to its wafer-thin chance of advancing to the crossover Final Four.

The under-23 Azkals take the pitch at 4 p.m. against the Burmese, who are locked in a tie for the lead with Vietnam after winning two and drawing one of their first three matches.

In West Java, fencing action comes off the wraps with Almario Vizcayno and Avelino Victorino campaigning in the men’s epee and Joana Franqueli and Jylyn Nicanor vying in the women’s individual saber at the University of Indonesia.

Filipino paddlers also return to Lake Cipule with the fancied Danny Funelas seeing action in the finals of his pet 200m canoe singles. Twins Alex and Alvin Generalo also hope to figure prominently in the 200m kayak doubles.

Funelas, who finished seventh—the best in the region—in the world championships in Iran last month, will also team up with Asian Games veteran Norwell Cajes in the 200m canoe doubles.

Fencing is hoping to at least duplicate a three-gold haul in 2007 in Thailand.