Team Philippines capped its productive campaign with two gold, one silver and six bronze medals on Wednesday at the close of the 11th ASEAN School Games in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.
The Philippine dribblers continued their dominance in regional meet for student athletes, completing another sweep in the sports closest to Filipinos’ heart at the jam-packed Sahabat Sport Hall.
In the boys’ category, the Pinoy dribblers rode on the hot three-point shooting of Batang Gilas gunner Terrence Fortea, as the Philippines pounced host country Indonesia, 100-51, and bagged their second straight gold medal in the annual school-based meet.
Fortea and teammates Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano are coming from their stint with Gilas Pilipinas Youth in the Fiba Under-19 World Cup in Greece.
Also part of the roster are members of the 17-under team Harold Alarcon, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Aaron Buensalida, Kevin Quiambao, Jon Felicilda, Jeffrey Mailim, Reyland Torres, Menard Songcuya, and Nathaniel Tulabut.
After a sluggish performance in the first three quarters and trailing by as much as 10, the girls’ team eked out an 84-72 win over a tall Thailand squad in the finals of the girls’ basketball competition and took home the gold for the third consecutive year.
Kristine Cayabyab and Angelica Marie Surada led the team with 30 and 14 points, respectively.
Last year, Filipinos also swept the basketball event. Both teams, as well as volleyball squads are represented by National University.
The Pinay spikers snatched a silver medal after vowing to Thailand in a thrilling five-set match, 20-25, 29-31, 25-19, 25-18, 9-15.
Their counterpart, managed to claim the bronze after losing their semifinal duel with Thailand, 21-25, 20-25, 14-25.
In table tennis, netter Elijah Yamson settled for the bronze medal as he bowed to Lim Dao Yi of Singapore, 3-0, in the boys’ singles category at the Badminton Hall Mugas.
Moreover, two bronze medals were secured by the Philippines from the sepak takraw event held at the Unika Soegija Pranata Sport Hall.
The team composed of Jessie Encomienda, Jason Dave Malijao, Stephen Kilayco Jemlo Rafael and Marvin Escamillan struggled against the Malaysians and dropped a 0-2 (7-21, 9-21) beating for a third-place finish in the regu competition.
In the doubles’ event, the group of Joshua Bullo, MC Oclarit and Arsyl Tupas
bowed to the Thailand team, 0-2 (12-21, 13-21) and settled for the bronze medal.
Meanwhile, in pencat silat, Denmark Abdurasad, Jessa Dela Cruz and Jerome Negapatan claimed bronze medals in boys’ Tanding Class F (Over 59-63 kg), girls’ Tanding Class D (Over 51-55 kg), and boys’ singles (seni) competition, respectively.
The Philippines amassed 33 medals with 4 gold, 7 silver and 22 bronze to tie its last year’s campaign in sixth place in the medal standings.
Host Indonesia secured the top spot with 43 gold, 34 silver, and 25 bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 33 gold, 31 silver, and 34 bronze medals.