Netball team loses by 101; paddler gains

Richard Gonzales won his first singles match yesterday to make up for the country’s elimination in men’s doubles of table tennis in the 28th Southeast Asian Games at the Singapore indoor stadium in Singapore.

Gonzales, who at 44 is the most experienced member of the squad, dominated Thavisack Phathaphone, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4.

He next faces Ficky Supit Santosom of Indonesia who outplayed Muhamad A.H. Muhamad, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10, Tuesday.

Earlier, Gonzales and Rodel Irineo Valle won their first doubles match, but bowed out in the quarterfinals.

Gonzales and Valle stunned Malaysians Leong Chee Feng and Wong Chun Cheun, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, to advance into the next round.

The Filipino tandem started hot against Chen Feng and Chew Zhe Yu Clarence, taking the first set, 13-11, but faded, losing the next three, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4.

The other Filipino pair, Sendrin Balatbat and Ian Lariba, was eliminated by Gustin Dwijayanti and Kharisma Nur Hawwa of Indonesia, 11-6, 13-15, 1012, 11-8, 11-5.

In netball, the inexperienced Filipinas were massacred by Malaysia, 112-11.

The Malaysians were led by Norashikin Kamalzaman who poured 61 goals on 66 attempts. An Najwa Azizan scored on all 29 attempts against the Filipinas’ puny defense.

The outplayed Filipinas were limited to only 22 attempts, making only 11, seven of them by Ana Thea Cenarosa.

It was the Filipinas’ second straight defeat. They lost to Thailand, 62-22, Sunday.

On Tuesday, synchronized swimming gets under way at the OCBC Aquatic Centre with Allyssa Salvador and Jemimah Nissi Tiambeng making debut for the Philippines.

Also on the same day, the Philippine flag will be raised during the SEA Games welcome ceremonies at 8 a.m. at the Singapore National Stadium.

National team chef de mission Julian Camacho will lead the PH contingent composed mostly of the members of the secretariat and medical team.

Also in attendance are Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta, assistant chef de mission Jonne Go, and Philippines Sports Commission executive director Guillermo Iroy Jr.

PSC chairman Richie Garcia was set to arrive last night and may also attend the ceremonies, according to Camacho.

Aside from athletes in men’s football team, netball, table tennis and synchronized swimming, already in town are those from fencing, floorball, canoekayak and dragon boat.