SEA Games: Filipina pair rows to lightweight double sculls gold

Rowers Joanie Delgaco and Melka Jean Caballero, gold women’s lightweight double sculls. Photo by June Navarro/INQUIRER

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Even before she plunged into action, Joanie Delgaco had been hoping for a house of her own.

The 21-year-old rower from Iriga City moved closer to that pipe dream after emerging victorious with Melka Jean Caballero in the lightweight double sculls on Saturday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“I will reward myself by buying my own property,’’ said Delgaco, a SEA Games first-timer who clocked seven minutes and 24.21 seconds with Caballero amid the searing midday sun at the Triboa Bay.

Vietnam’s Thi Hao Dinh and Than Huyen Ta placed second in 7:27.65 and the Myanmar pair of Shwe Zin Latt and Nilar Win claimed the bronze in 7:30.23.

The achievement of Caballero and Delgaco, who both hail from Camarines Sur, was a fitting followup to the victory of Cris Nievarez earlier in the men’s lightweight single sculls.

“We want to win this not only for our families, but for the country as well,’’ said the 23-year-old Caballero in her second stint in the Games.

The Filipino rowers already bested their one-gold output in the 2013 Myanmar and a silver in 2015 Singapore courtesy of Nestor Cordova.