GUANGZHOU—Never underestimate the flair of the Filipino on the dance floor.
In an introductory discipline of the Asiad, Ronnie Steeve Vergara and Charlea Lagaras assembled cha cha cha and paso doble routines competitive enough for an international array of judges and worth bronze medals that momentarily stopped the bleeding in all other fronts for the Philippines in the 16th Asian Games here.
Driven by the memory of tough breaks in the standard category the day before, the Filipino couple danced their hearts out to capture the initial medals for the country. China’s Shi Lei and Zhang Baiyu won the gold in cha cha cha and Korea’s Kim Do Hyeon and Park Sumyo the silver.
In the paso doble, the gold went to China’s Wang Wei and Chen Jin, while the silver was won by Korea’s Jang Se Jin and Lee Hae In.
“We will keep on fighting. We know that our rivals are strong too but our dancers are determined," said Maria Neto of the DanceSports federation before the event.
In the general picture, China’s pace is a whirlwind that devours everyone within breathing distance, and even those who wishfully think they can catch up could only bite their nails in awe.
On the second day of competitions in the 16th Asian Games, China moved briskly to turn Japan and Korea into pseudo threats and all others stymied, including Filipinos who could not get past the first fence in the face of near Olympic-class performances.
Amid an all-China show in the medal standings, RP has yet to break into the elite circle of winners as the bleeding continued in rowing, shooting, swimming, tennis, triathlon, and dancesports.
On the previous day, the pesky soft tennis team missed the medal boat after a 2-1 loss to defending Asiad champion Chinese-Taipei, winding up fifth overall out of 14. Then the six-red balls women’s team of billiards dropped a controversial quarterfinal match against host China.
Chinese Taipei likewise prevented the advance of the Philippine lawn tennis squad to the medal phase, claiming the two singles matches in the quarters.
The Philippine billiards team had the most depressing day as Efren "Bata" Reyes and Roberto Gomez dropped their first-round assignments in 8-ball competitions, and Rey Grandea faltered in English billiards.
Alvin Barbero and Marlon Manalo also lost in the opening round of snooker.
In spite of the close victory of the men’s basketball team over the Athletes from Kuwait, 76-69, there was no cause for celebration at building 28-c, 28-d and 31 of the athletes’ village where Team Philippines is billeted.
Husband and wife Joel and Anabelle Madera flirted with the medal round in waltz, bowing out in the semis — the highest achievement at that point for the dancesport crew which made the quarterfinals in tango, foxtrot and Latin Five Dances events.
Filipino boxers flew in Saturday night as reinforcement, but the depletion of hope continued as Alvin Amposta and Roque Abala failed in heat two of rowing, finishing fourth among six with 6:55.36, way off leader Sun Zhang and Jie Guolin of China (6:27.81).
Mark Lloren Manosca was 45th among 50 in men’s 10 meter air pistol while Alyana Kystle Chuatoco was 44th among 52 in the qualifying stage of the distaff group.
The pools of Guangzhou were as unkind to Jessie King Lacuna, and Erica Totten. Lacuna was fifth among eight in his 200m freestyle heat and did not even start in the 100m butterfly heats.
Totten was dead last in a group of five,16.17 seconds behind winner Li Xuanxu of China who blazed to a 4:45.42 in the 400 individual medley.
Judoka Karen Ann Solomon had a fine start in beating Libya’s Louize Bourached in the 70 kgs. division, but successive losses to Korea’s Hwang Ye Sul and Mongolia’s Tsend Ayush Naranjargal in the repechage booted her out of the medal race.
Tested to the limit, 46-year-old John Baylon fought and lost to world number one Kim Jae Bum of Korea in the 81 kgs. class.
In another heart-breaker, Apryl Eppinger finished a notch shy in the qualifying run of women’s sprint in cycling (track).
Triathlete Neil Catiil was good only for 14th among 19 in the men’s individual category, more than 13 minutes behind the eventual winner Hosoda Yuichi who clocked 1:52:15.16.
Double handed dingy 470 racers Emerson Villena and Lester Troy Tayong placed fifth among seven in the event ruled by Japan’s Ryunosuke Harada and Yugo Yoshida, while Reneric Moreno ended up sixth in a field of 10 in men’s RSX.
Artistic gymnast Frances Audrey Munoz opened her bid in four events but results were not yet available as of Sunday afternoon.
Rubilen Amit, the strongest medal hope in women’s billiards, opens her campaign late Sunday, while in chess, grandmasters Joey Antonio and Wesley So seek to improve their 1-1 win-loss cards. Jackson Hong and Sandy Chua have the same targets in qiangqi or Chinese chess.
The dancesports team will also perform in the Latin dances contests, hoping to break China’s dominance. - RCJ, GMANews.TV
In an introductory discipline of the Asiad, Ronnie Steeve Vergara and Charlea Lagaras assembled cha cha cha and paso doble routines competitive enough for an international array of judges and worth bronze medals that momentarily stopped the bleeding in all other fronts for the Philippines in the 16th Asian Games here.
Driven by the memory of tough breaks in the standard category the day before, the Filipino couple danced their hearts out to capture the initial medals for the country. China’s Shi Lei and Zhang Baiyu won the gold in cha cha cha and Korea’s Kim Do Hyeon and Park Sumyo the silver.
In the paso doble, the gold went to China’s Wang Wei and Chen Jin, while the silver was won by Korea’s Jang Se Jin and Lee Hae In.
“We will keep on fighting. We know that our rivals are strong too but our dancers are determined," said Maria Neto of the DanceSports federation before the event.
In the general picture, China’s pace is a whirlwind that devours everyone within breathing distance, and even those who wishfully think they can catch up could only bite their nails in awe.
On the second day of competitions in the 16th Asian Games, China moved briskly to turn Japan and Korea into pseudo threats and all others stymied, including Filipinos who could not get past the first fence in the face of near Olympic-class performances.
Amid an all-China show in the medal standings, RP has yet to break into the elite circle of winners as the bleeding continued in rowing, shooting, swimming, tennis, triathlon, and dancesports.
On the previous day, the pesky soft tennis team missed the medal boat after a 2-1 loss to defending Asiad champion Chinese-Taipei, winding up fifth overall out of 14. Then the six-red balls women’s team of billiards dropped a controversial quarterfinal match against host China.
Chinese Taipei likewise prevented the advance of the Philippine lawn tennis squad to the medal phase, claiming the two singles matches in the quarters.
The Philippine billiards team had the most depressing day as Efren "Bata" Reyes and Roberto Gomez dropped their first-round assignments in 8-ball competitions, and Rey Grandea faltered in English billiards.
Alvin Barbero and Marlon Manalo also lost in the opening round of snooker.
In spite of the close victory of the men’s basketball team over the Athletes from Kuwait, 76-69, there was no cause for celebration at building 28-c, 28-d and 31 of the athletes’ village where Team Philippines is billeted.
Husband and wife Joel and Anabelle Madera flirted with the medal round in waltz, bowing out in the semis — the highest achievement at that point for the dancesport crew which made the quarterfinals in tango, foxtrot and Latin Five Dances events.
Filipino boxers flew in Saturday night as reinforcement, but the depletion of hope continued as Alvin Amposta and Roque Abala failed in heat two of rowing, finishing fourth among six with 6:55.36, way off leader Sun Zhang and Jie Guolin of China (6:27.81).
Mark Lloren Manosca was 45th among 50 in men’s 10 meter air pistol while Alyana Kystle Chuatoco was 44th among 52 in the qualifying stage of the distaff group.
The pools of Guangzhou were as unkind to Jessie King Lacuna, and Erica Totten. Lacuna was fifth among eight in his 200m freestyle heat and did not even start in the 100m butterfly heats.
Totten was dead last in a group of five,16.17 seconds behind winner Li Xuanxu of China who blazed to a 4:45.42 in the 400 individual medley.
Judoka Karen Ann Solomon had a fine start in beating Libya’s Louize Bourached in the 70 kgs. division, but successive losses to Korea’s Hwang Ye Sul and Mongolia’s Tsend Ayush Naranjargal in the repechage booted her out of the medal race.
Tested to the limit, 46-year-old John Baylon fought and lost to world number one Kim Jae Bum of Korea in the 81 kgs. class.
In another heart-breaker, Apryl Eppinger finished a notch shy in the qualifying run of women’s sprint in cycling (track).
Triathlete Neil Catiil was good only for 14th among 19 in the men’s individual category, more than 13 minutes behind the eventual winner Hosoda Yuichi who clocked 1:52:15.16.
Double handed dingy 470 racers Emerson Villena and Lester Troy Tayong placed fifth among seven in the event ruled by Japan’s Ryunosuke Harada and Yugo Yoshida, while Reneric Moreno ended up sixth in a field of 10 in men’s RSX.
Artistic gymnast Frances Audrey Munoz opened her bid in four events but results were not yet available as of Sunday afternoon.
Rubilen Amit, the strongest medal hope in women’s billiards, opens her campaign late Sunday, while in chess, grandmasters Joey Antonio and Wesley So seek to improve their 1-1 win-loss cards. Jackson Hong and Sandy Chua have the same targets in qiangqi or Chinese chess.
The dancesports team will also perform in the Latin dances contests, hoping to break China’s dominance. - RCJ, GMANews.TV
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