SEA Games: PH’s Alisson Perticheto tops ice skating short program

Alisson Perticheto of the Philippines leads the senior women’s short program of the 2019 SEA Games. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Alisson Krystle Perticheto of the Philippines is off to a smooth start, topping the short program in the women’s figure skating competition of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Friday at SM Megamall Skating Rink.

Perticheto, the bronze medalist in the 2017 SEA Games, tallied a score of 53.65, nearly three points ahead of Singapore’s Chloe Ing, the silver medalist from the previous competition, who had 50.67 to come in second.

“I had a little pressure you know because I want to make the Philippines proud, but again it’s all about the emotion and myself, and going into my routine that’s what I did today,” said Perticheto.

Savika Refa Zahira of Indonesia had 32.62 points to place third in the short program with Thailand’s Thita Lamsam garnering 27.30 points.

Indonesia’s Tasya Putri finished with 26.34 points place in the top five in the short program with Thailand’s Teekhree Silpa-Archa tallying 26.18 points for the sixth spot.

Aiba Sorfina Mohd Aminudin of Malaysia placed seventh with 25.66 points with compatriot Sze Chi Chyew coming in at eighth with 22.78 points.

The Philippines’ Cirinia Gillett settled for ninth place with 20.93 points in her debut performance in the SEA Games.

The free skate program is on Sunday at the same venue.