MANILA – Ilonggo Edmar Tacuel delivered Team Philippines’ first pencak silat gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. He ruled the tunggal event at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.
The Tubungan, Iloilo native ruled his event after getting the nod of the judges for 470 points. Muhammad Iqbal Bin Abdul Rahman of Singapore pocketed the silver medal and Dino Bima Sulistianto of Indonesia placed third.
Tacuel, a son of a farmer and sixth among a brood of seven children, said he was thankful for the support of his family and the Philippine Sports Commission.
“This is the happiest day of my life. I thank my family, coaches, teammates and the government for helping me achieve my dream,” Tacuel said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz captured the eluside SEA Games gold medal by ruling the women’s -55 kilogram category.
Diaz, a silver medalist in the Rio Olympics and gold medal winner in theAsian Games, clinched the gold with a 211 total kilograms – 91 kilogram in snatch and 120 in clear and jerk.
In arnis, Sheena del Monte, Jedah Mae Soriano, Ross Monville, Mike Banares, Jezebel Morcillo, Jesfer Huquire, Elmer Manlapaz, and Carloyd Tejada netted golds each, while Jude Rodriguez and Billy Joel Valenzuela settled for silver, while Erlin Busacay ended with bronze.
Kim Mangrobang and John Chicano netted their second gold medals in triathlon when they teamed up with Claire Adorna and Fernando Cases in the mixed team triathlon.
Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabando added to Philippines’ medal haul in dancesport with gold medals in all five dance and single dance pasadoble and a silver in single dance jibe.
Debbie Mahinay added bronze in breaking, girls event.
In duathlon, Monica Torres took home the gold medal in the women’s individual event, while Joey Delos Reyes settled for just a silver medal in the men’s.
Estie Liwanen nabbed the country’s first gold medal in kurash, while teammate Jenilou Mosqueda settled for silver.
Romark Belo, Mico Anota and Abnel
Amiladjid clinched the silver medal in water polo men’s, while Monica Chernoff,
Kieran Bates and Haden Bates ended up with bronze in women’s water polo.
Alisson Pertichento and Christopher Caluza netted a silver each in ice skating.
John Fabiar Ceniza also finished second in weightlifting and Jones Inso
Llaberes had a silver in wushu.
Jan Emmanuel Garcia, meanwhile, netted a gold medal in Online Chess but the gold is not counted in the overall tally since it was a demonstration sport.
The Philippines are currently on top of medal standings with 36 golds, 19 silvers and 10 bronze medals, followed by Vietnam (10-17-13), Malaysia (8-2-5), Singapore (6-8-7), and Thailand (6-6-13)./PN
