SEA Games: PH water polo team draws Singapore, assured of medal

Philippines water polo team react after their game against Singapore at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in New Clark City. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

NEW CLARK CITY — The Philippines practically secured a medal after forging a 6-6 draw against 27-time defending champion Singapore Friday in the men’s water polo competitions in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The Filipinos now have four points following their win over the Thais and their previous draw against the Indonesians. They can secure silver medal win a victory over Malaysia on Sunday.

Indonesia scored a historic win over Singapore last Thursday (7-5) and followed it up with another win over Malaysia Friday (14-7).

And with its draw against the Philippines in the opener, and 17-12 win over Thailand, Indonesia is the runaway gold winner with seven points.

Singapore, which had previously won all 27 editions, found itself dethroned from its lofty throne. At three points, it will now have to win against Thailand to at least land in the podium.

But the perennial champion didn’t go without a fight.

The Filipinos took a 4-0 lead in the second quarter, breathing hopes to their gold medal dream after finishing runner-up from 2005 to 2011 and coming up empty-handed the previous two editions.

But they allowed the fallen champs to get their bearing and keep the match close amid wildly cheering fans at NCC Aquatics Center.

Leading 6-5 in the fourth, the Singaporeans scored a goal on penalty throw to knot the match with just one minute left.

The Philippines called a timeout but could not convert what could have been the winning goal.