Caluag bronze lifts Phl’s dying hopes
around cheering for Filipino athletes. She returns home on Tuesday.
But there’s a good number of Filipino crowd that cheered on Caluag on his second straight Asiad feat.
“I’m happy with the finish. I would have liked a better color, but any medal for the Philippines is definitely good result especially on the world stage,” said Caluag on his bronze medal going with his precious gold in 2014 – the country’s lone gold in Incheon.
Christopher John Caluag, Daniel’s younger brother who narrowly missed a podium finish in the 2014 Incheon meet, failed to make it past the qualifying run here.
Meanwhile, Filipina newcomer Sienna Elaine Fines avoided a two-rider spill but checked in only at fifth in the distaff side.
In women’s golf over at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, Saso fired a second-straight threeunder 69 for a three-day total of 209, just a stroke behind the second-running Du Mohan of China (73-210).
Another Chinese Liu Wenbo bumped off Du from the lead with a five-under for the day and an 11-under total of 205.
In team competition, the Philippines, also featuring Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, pooled a 140 and closed in on the second running team with a 10-under 422. China remained the leader at 19-under 413 even as Korea emerged the new second placer after a 138 for a 420 total.
“Strange things happen in golf,” said Bones Floro, the Team Phl non-playing captain still hopeful they can overhaul China’s nine-stroke lead going into the final 18 holes.
The men’s team of Weiwei Gao, Luis Castro, Lloyd Jefferson Go and Ruperto Zaragosa III was way off the pace.
The Philippine men’s canoe/ kayak made it past the morning From Page 18 qualifiers but was thrown off its rhythm by a false start and wound up fifth in the 200-meter finals at the Jakabaring Canoeing and Rowing Regatta Course in Palembang.
With their adrenaline pumping at full throttle, the Filipino paddlers surged ahead early of the six-team field only to be recalled back to the starting line when host Indonesia took off prematurely, losing whatever momentum they might have had in the process.
In the re-start, the Nationals lost steam and checked in fifth in 53.360 seconds.
China won the gold in 50.832, relegating neighboring rival Chinese-Taipei (51.358) to silver and Thailand (52.622) to the bronze at the world-class facility in Jakarbaring Sports City.
The Indons, who also belatedly changed boats that were used in the races, placed fourth (53.60) in what seemed like poetic justice. Myanmar, which dominated the Asian championships in Taiwan last April, struggled in sixth place (55.070).
“It is unusual for the host to make a false start in a race like this,” said Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation president Jonne Go of the mistake by the hosts. “Malaking bagay yong false start because our boys were all set to go only to be told you have to go back again.”
In ju-jitsu, Carlos Nagelo Peña clobbered Singapore’s Calvin Chua, 10-0, in the newaza men’s -62kg Round of 32 but Apryl Jessica Eppinger and Annie Ramirez were eased out in their own opening-round bouts.
In bowling, the men’s team of six finished ninth in the first block with 4,054 pinfalls.
The men’s regu in sepak takraw was no match to Indonesia and suffered a 0-2 shutout loss.
Gerald Verosil finished 21st in men’s combined qualification in sport climbing.
Rivera clocked in a winning time of 49.02 seconds, 0.22 seconds clear of Anton who clocked a 49.24, with Gallardo managing 49.28.
Rivera, who was able to extend his overall championship lead with the win, admitted that the day did not come easy at all.
“We made some major adjustments during the break, and we still haven’t perfected the
The RACE Motorsports Club National Slalom Series now shifts to Tarlac Circuit Hill this Sept. 9 for its eighth leg.
Also, Rivera was able to inch closer to the 2018 Philippine Autocross Championship Series crown after a second place finish during its fifth leg the day before. He now leads closest rival Carlos Anton by nine points with three races to go.