After winning 10 gold medals, dancesport athletes deserve a second look
Gayon Mark Jayson Corales and Rengen Mary Joy Guiao of Philippines perform their number for gold in slow foxtrot during the 30th Sea Games held at Royce Hotel, Clark, Pampanga, December 1, 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
NEW CLARK CITY — With 10 golden performances, Filipino dancesport athletes proved that they deserved their spots in the grand ball.
Dancesport president Becky Garcia felt that the country’s overwhelming performance in the 30th Southeast Asian Games should give the sport mainstream popularity.
“It’s about time, we hope people will be more interested in the sport,” said Garcia after the Philippines won 10 of the 14 golds staked in the last Sunday.
SEA Games: PH dancesport plucks 5 gold medals in standard events
She added that three major tournaments are lined up next year for the Dancesport Council of the Philippines, and asked that “they (fans) come in droves to our tournaments.”
The ranking competitions will be held March, midyear championships in July and national finals in October. They will all be held at Philsports, which is a big level-up for the event that for many years was held at Valle Verde Country Club.
“Our athletes deserve it. They’ve been trained abroad. We brought them to competitions abroad, attended training camps abroad and we also brought in foreign coaches for Latin and Standard disciplines,” she added.
The pairs of Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda, and Sean Micha Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla bagged three gold medals each in the Latin and Standard disciplines, respectively.
Joining them in the goal haul were the partnerships of Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo, and Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen, which chipped in two golds each.
