Fine form

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

Alisson Krystle Perticheto got off to a rousing start in the women’s figure skating competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games after topping the short program side of the event Friday at SM Megamall Skating Rink.

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

The charming Perticheto got the inside track on a gold medal in the event, which will be disputed Sunday when the free skate event is held.

Scores from both disciplines will be added to determine the champion, and being almost three points ahead certainly gives the Filipino an edge.

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

Savika Refa Zahira of Indonesia was a far third with 32.62 points, with Thailand’s Thita Lamsam garnering 27.30 points.

Indonesia’s Tasya Putri finished with 26.34 points to complete the top five, with Thailand’s Teekhree Silpa-Archa tallying 26.18 points for sixth spot.

Aina Sorfina Mohd Aminudin of Malaysia was seventh with 25.66 points with compatriot Sze Chi Chyew coming in eighth with 22.78 points.

Cirinia Gillett, the second Filipino in the field who is a SEA Games rookie, was ninth with 20.93 points.

The Philippines’ Christopher Caluza and Edria Paul Celestino made a strong case for the podium after a strong showing in the short program in the ice skating competition of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at SM Megamall.

Caluza came in second place after tallying 62.37 points while Celestino was at third with 61.52.

Malaysia’s Julian Zhie Jie Yee, the gold medalist in the 2017 SEA Games, topped the short program with 63.35 points.

Both Caluza and Celestino are in their first SEA Games and tallying such high marks in their debut performance was a big boost for them going into Sunday’s free skate event wherein the medal winners will be determined.

“Of course it’s a good boost, like the fact that we finished really well for the short program and you know we could get good marks,” said Caluza.

“I definitely think it’s a big boost but nothing changes, we just have to do our job whatever happens,” said Celestino.

Micah Kai Lynette of Thailand finished with a mark of 60.77 for the fourth spot with Singapore’s Pagiel Sng settling at fifth with 52.06.

Muhammad Dwi Rizqy Apolianto of Indonesia was at sixth with 38.78 points and his compatriot Calvin Pratama rounded out the competitors with 31.04 points.