Dumaan misses golden repeat in pencak silat

FILE – Dines Dumaan of the Philippines in 29th Southeast Asian Games pencak silat competition Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SEA GAMES POOL

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Dines Dumaan became the toast of pencak silat for his golden gig in the Kuala Lumpur Games two years ago.

Hands down the preferred pick for a repeat act, Dumaan fell short of expectations this year after capping the national team’s campaign with a bronze medal in men’s tanding (combat) Wednesday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Dinh Tuan Nguyen of Vietnam escaped with a 3-2 win at Dumaan’s expense during their make-or-break semifinals in the 50-55kg category at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

“We could have won, but fell short of time,’’ said Nerlyn Huinde, Dumaan’s coach.

More than that, the judges failed to count Dumaan’s takedown in the dying seconds worth five points, something that could had clinched victory outright.

Nguyen’s great escape set him up against Singapore’s Mohammad Hazim Bin Mohammad Yusli for the gold medal.

The Vietnamese was in control during the first two rounds before Dumaan, egged on by the crowd, threw a flurry of thunderous punches and kicks that brought him back in the fight.

Despite missing the chance for the gold, the contribution of Dines, a 24-year-old discovery from Capiz, was well received by the team.

“The performance of the team has improved compared last time. Our next goal is to win more gold medals,’’ said Huinde after the PH pencak silat squad secured one gold, two silvers and a bronze at the end of competitions.

Edmar Tacuel claimed the gold in men’s tunggal while 16-year-old Mary Francine Padios (women’s tunggal) and siblings Almohadab Abad and Alfau Jan Abad (men’s ganda) accounted for the two silver medals.