Gold eludes Team Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR – The Philippines lost the first of two tennis finals Friday to settle for the silver medal in the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

Twins Sonchai and Sanchat Ratiwatana of Thailand outlasted Ruben Gonzales Jr. and Francis Casey Alcantara, 6-4, 2-6, 10-7, to retain the men’s doubles title at the National Tennis Center.

Both nations also faced in the final in 2015, although Gonzales was paired with Jeson Patrombon.

Gonzales was set to return to the court and team up with Denise Dy in the mixed doubles final later in the day.

After taking five golds Thursday, the Filipinos settled for five bronzes to add to the silver.

Fil-German Katharina Lehnert and Dy were awarded the bronze in women’s doubles while the rest came from athletics.

Fil-Americans Anthony Beram and Eric Cray powered the Philippines to a bronze medal finish in the 4 x 100-meter run, the first time it made the podium since bagging silver in 2005 in Manila.

Despite strong leg runs, the Fil-American duo failed to threaten Thailand which shattered the Games record with a time of 38.90 seconds.

Indonesia pocketed the silver in 39.05 seconds, just a fraction of a second ahead of the Filipinos who came in 39.11 seconds.

The quartet of Zion Rose Nelson, Kyla Richardson, Kayla Richardson and Eloiza Luzon finished third in the women’s 4 x 100-meter relay for the bronze medal.

The PH runners clocked 44.81 seconds behind gold medal winner Vietnam which broke the Games record with a time of 43.88 seconds. Malaysia took the bronze in 44.62 seconds.

In the women’s long jump, Marestella Torres-Sunang was beaten in third place after making only two legal jumps. She leaped 6.45 meters to settle for the bronze.

Vietnamese Bui Thi Thu Thao captured the gold in 6.68 meters with Indonesian Maria Natalia Londa taking the silver in 6.47 meters.

Sunang had a chance to improve her jump but hesitated near the takeoff point and ended stepping on the sand without leaping.

Melvin Cafano accounted for the other gold in athletics when he placed third in the men’s javelin throw.

The Philippines can still salvage the gold in golf after both teams won their opening matchplay assignments.

The men’s squad defeated Malaysia, 2-1, while the women’s team humbled Vietnam, 2.5-0.5.

Meanwhile, the search for the gold medals continues Saturday with the start of competitions in badminton, judo, muay and taekwondo.

In badminton, preliminary matches are set in singles and doubles starting at 9 a.m. at the Axiata Arena in KL Sports City.

Three gold medals will be disputed in judo with Fil-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe defending her title at the KLCC Hall 5.

In muay, five Filipinos – Khen Johnson, Phillip Delarmino, Ryan Jakiri, Jonathan Polosan, and Jay Harold Gregorio – see action in preliminary bouts at the MiTEC Hall 8.

Poomsae competitions get going in taekwondo starting at 2 p.m. with five gold medals on tap at the KLCC Hall 1.