Coordination and cohesion: Getting to know chinlone

Rhemwil Catana of Philippines. during the Chinlone event at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur where Chinlone team won the 1st silver for the country. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

KUALA LUMPUR—Chinlone, the event that broke the Philippines into medal column, requires hand-foot-eye coordination as much as cohesion and team work.

Team member Johnjohn Bobier said they may have came up short in skills department — after settling for silver behind gold winner Malaysia — but not in camaraderie.

For one, Bobier said the team regularly takes a shower together.

READ: Sepak takraw targeting 2 golds 

“We are like family. We shower together. Eat together and dress together,” said the 25-year-old Army First Class.

Chinlone, a discipline under the sport of sepak takraw, requires six players in a circle performing a routine of kicking a ball made of wicker one after another.

A successful routine counts as one point, and the team with the most points after a 10-minute round wins.

READ: PH bags silver medal in men’s sepak takraw

Passing should be seamless because it’s a race against time. A failed routine would require the ball to be served—which takes precious time.

“So it’s important that you communicate very well with you teammates,” said Bobier.

“I think we did well considering we only trained for four months,” he added. “Malaysia has been a team for years. But I think we can still improve and raise our level.”