With only three gold medals to show as darkness crept in yesterday, the host country sweated in anguished anticipation for the results in swimming, where six final events were scheduled up to late evening, billiards and snookers with four, and squash and fencing two each.
Still, the Nationals never faltered with 61 golds, 46 silvers, and 51 bronzes to maintain the overall lead over Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, after strides taken by the three nations in gymnastics, rowing, fencing, bowling and weightlifting, notwithstanding.
Dry as a desert after a downpour in the first four days of competition, the RP delegation quenched its thirst with gold medals in rowing, gymnastics and judo.
Benjamin Tolentino bagged his third gold in rowing, a hat trick, this time in combination with Alvin Lopez Amposta in the lightweight men’s double sculls with a time of 6:50.16, beating the Thai tandem of Ruthtanaphol Theppibal and Anupong Thainjaw (6:54.18) at the La Mesa Dam.
The RP rowing team captured a Games-best three golds, with Tolentino a part of the three glittering efforts, and won the sport’s championship for the first time since the country joined the SEAG in 1977.
"I’m very happy because this is the first time we won the rowing title," gushed Ramos. "And it was all made possible by the hard work, utter dedication and sheer determination of our athletes."
What makes the win doubly sweet is the fact the RP rowers, except for Tolentino who participated in last September’s Worlds in Japan, did not get any international exposure.
"Dito lang talaga sila nag-train kaya talagang proud na proud kami," said rowing president Benjie Ramos.
Leaving his indelible mark on the win is national coach Ed Maerina, a former national rower himself who tinkered with the old combinations and made some new ones soon after the RP rowers brought home only three silvers from the 2003 Vietnam SEAG.
"Si coach Ed ang nagbago ng mga pairs and teams, nag-suggest that we put Benjie (Tolentino) from the open weight to the lightweight," revealed Ramos.
Amposta has teamed up with Nestor Cordova for the lightweight double sculls bronze in the 2002 Busan Asian Games and a silver two years ago. His partnership with Tolentino produced a 6:50.16 clocking that is almost four seconds faster than a Thai pair.
Tolentino’s men’s pair partner, Jose Rodriguez, actually insured the hosts will take the title on the very first event yesterday by salvaging third place in the single sculls behind a Thai and an Indon.
Insurance came through the silver of Joel Bagasbas, Nilo and Nestor Cordova and Amposta in the men’s fours and gravy with the bronze of Nida Cordova and Forena Medina in the women’s pairs.
In the end, both the Philippines and Thailand had three gold and one silver medal each, but the hosts took the title with their three bronzes.
Roel Ramirez, meanwhile, defied the mastery of the Vietnamese and the Malaysians in gymnastics by winning the gold in the men’s horse vault event, edging Malaysia’s Shu Wai Ng and M. Aldilla Akbar of Indonesia at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Vietnam claimed four of the 10 golds disputed in gymnastics, while Malaysia nailed two.
Helen Dawa, battling in the 45-kilogram category in judo, accounted for the country’s third gold, becoming the lone RP entry to escape the grappling gladiators of Vietnam and Thailand.
The Philippines won a gold and a silver in four final events before a crowded Mandaue Sports Center.
Dawa, one of the three gold medalists in 2003 Vietnam Games, needed two extensions to wear down Muenjit Wanwisa of Thailand.
Nancy Quillotes, a native of Dulag Leyte, lost to Van Ngoc Tu of Vietnam to settle for the silver in the 48-kgs. and below category.
"Kahit papa’no nanalo ako sa bansa natin. Sa Vietnam noong nanalo ako, ibang National Anthem ang tinugtog nila," said the 25-year-old Philippine Coast Guard draftee.
Added silver lining was provided by Maristes Bitbig in the 27-kilometer individual time trial in cycling, and the fencing team of Walbert Mendoza, Edmond Velez and Gian Carlo Nocom in the men’s team sabre.
Salvaging the bronze were rowers Jose Rodriguez, Nida Cordoval and Fornea Medina, and Joel Bagasbas, Nilo and Nestor Cordova and Amposta; fencers Ma. Wendylene Mendoza, Veena Tessa Nuestro and Michelle Mancenido in the women’s team foil; and judoka Hoshima Tomohiko in the 100-kg. event.
