SEA Games: Hermie Macaranas delivers Philippines’ first gold in canoe

Paddler Hermie Macaranas rules the canoe men’s singles 200m event in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. INQUIRER PHOTO

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Frustrated on how the races initially transpired, Hermie Macaranas saw his plans pan out after winning a historic triumph in canoeing.

Macaranas ruled the men’s singles 200m race for the country’s first gold medal in the sport at the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Saturday at the scorching hot Malawaan Park here.

“I really can’t describe the feeling. I trained for several years just to be here,’’ said Macaranas as the team captain of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation stood atop the podium this time following his silver finish in the men’s singles 1000m on Friday.

The 23-year-old Macaranas, the country’s top qualifying bet in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, crossed the finish just a split second ahead of Myanmar’s Wim Myo Hlaing Win in 43.60 seconds. Win took the silver in 43.75 and Vietnam’s Anh Duc Duong placed third in 44.33 seconds.

Macaranas again reached the podium later on in the men’s doubles 200m with Ojay Fuentes.

Indonesia’s Mehue Spens Stuber and Marjuki Marjuki topped the event in 40.33 seconds while the tandem of Fuentes and Macaranas checked in 41.08 seconds in a dead heat with Vietnam’s Quoc Toan Nguyen and Ngoc Sang Phan.

It was the first time in these Games that Filipino paddlers secured a gold medal and two silvers in canoeing.

The national paddlers are expected to collect more gold medals in traditional boat race where they are the world champions in five race categories.