Pentathlon makes debut; Filipinos favored

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Modern pentathlon, an Olympic sport seeing action in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time, had its test event here last month where Filipino participants reigned supreme.

Now that the real deal is here, Filipino bets will encounter a far more challenging field in the beach laser men’s and women’s individual races on Thursday.

Princess Honey Arbilon and Ivy Claire Dinoy are the wise-money bets in the Philippine women’s side in the 9 a.m. race before Michael Ver Anton Comaling and Dexter Ardemer see action in the men’s race approximately an hour later.

The beach laser individual race features a four-target laser pistol shooting coupled by a 50-meter swim and an 800-meter run at Subic Bay Boardwalk.

Likewise seeking a triumphant stint in the sport, which offers six gold medals, are Samuel German, Alne Tonada, Shyra Mae Aranzado and Zaina Therese Sarno.

“Out of six gold medals, I am hoping we get at least two. I will be happy with that,’’ Richard Gomez, Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association president and Ormoc City mayor, told the Inquirer.Gomez, an actor and sportsman who also saw action in several SEA Games, formed the pool of Filipino pentathletes with Ormoc serving as the team’s breeding ground.

Comaling and Ardemer finished 1-2 in the test event held at Subic Boardwalk last month while Arbilon topped the women’s race.