PH bets nail milestone with first sepak gold in SEA Games

Philippine sepak takraw team. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Philippine sepak takraw team has broken through the countless frustrations of the past.

With a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games a hard commodity to find, the national team finally got over the hump by striking two golds on home turf Sunday here.

“Our homecourt advantage probably played a key role in the victory. It felt good to be cheered by the Filipino crowd here at home,’’ said Jason Huerte after joining forces with veteran Metodio Suico Jr. to rule the men’s hoop event.

John John Bobier, Emmanuel Escote, Christian George Encabo and John Jeffrey Morcellos also contributed to the golden effort of the Filipinos, who crushed Cambodia, 670-450, in the finals. Laos settled for the bronze with 430 points in the 30-minute event.

Philippine sepak takraw actually started on the right foot after the women’s squad first triumphed in the hoop discipline at the Subic Gym.

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.

“The help coming from the government (Philippine Sports Commission) and the private sector has contributed heavily to our success,’’ said PH sepak takraw coach Rodolfo Eco.

“This is historical in a sense that this is the first time that our sport won a gold medal in the SEA Games,’’ added Eco.

Myanmar was in demolition mode throughout but fell 30 points short of the Team Philippine output with a 640-420 win over Laos, allowing the hosts to grab the bronze medal.

Abigail Sinogbohan and Josefina Maat joined Mary Ann Lopez, Sara Jean Kalalo, Jean Marie Sucalit and Autor at the awarding ceremony. –INQ