Philippine sepak takraw team. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Philippine sepak takraw started on the right foot, securing a pair of gold medals in the hoop event as competitions got underway in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Sunday at the Subic Gym here.
With playing coach Deseree Autor leading the charge, the women’s team subdued Indonesia, 670-660, and needed an extra lift from Myanmar later on to clinch victory, historically the country’s first in the event.
Myanmar was in demolition mode throughout but fell 30 points short from the Team Philippine output with a 640-420 win over Laos for the bronze medal in 30-minute category.
Metodio Suico Jr. and Jason Huerte made it a golden double when they ruled the hoop event for men along with John John Bobier, Emmanuel Escote and John Jeffrey Morcillos.
The Philippine men’s squad toppled Cambodia, 670-450, in the finals while Laos settled for the bronze with 430 points.
Abigail Sinogbohan and Josefina Maat joined Mary Ann Lopez, Sara Jean Kalalo, Jean Marie Sucalit and Autor at the awarding ceremony that hinted of good things to come as they target to corner at least three golds out of six events.
Coming off a fifth-place performance in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition, the women’s squad will go for a golden double in the regu event starting Monday where the Philippines wound up with a bronze two years ago.