Friday, May 18, 2007 Another gold By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
FINALLY, there is a reason to thank the stifling heat in Cebu.
The Greater Cebu Sports Organizing Committee (GCSOC) team seemed unperturbed by the scorching heat in Darwin, Australia, as it padded its medal haul yesterday.
“It’s a good thing that it is hot there. It (heat) has not affected their games. I think it is hotter here, than at home, but it was easy for them to adjust,” said tennis coach Adonis Lominoque.
Yesterday, the netters plucked another gold courtesy of Macy Solon in women’s singles. Kristel Mae Buenacosa also added a bronze.
The team also won two bronzes in swimming at the Casuarina Swimming Pools the other night by Zoe Menguito, while Jorge Pinanonang won a silver in the 400 meter hurdles.
The RP team now has four golds, two silver and five bronze medals.
The women’s singles event is a round-robin competition, and Solon, who is in her second Arafura, had to curb all opponents to bag the crown. Yesterday, Solon capped her bid with a resounding 6-0, 6-3 win over the bet from Macau, China.
“I was able to defeat most of them through powerful strokes. I think they are not used to the heat,” said Solon.
It was a huge victory for Solon as it made up for her silver medal finish during the last Arafura Games.
“Last time, I won a gold medal in the team event, but only a silver in the women’s singles so I am really happy with my performance this year,” Solon added.
Other than the weather factor, Lominoque said the good performance of the players is due to their proper conditioning prior to the games.
Two finals
“I require them to be early so they get enough warm up before the matches. And their experience in various competitions back home is also a huge factor,” said Lominoque, who trained some top junior players in Malaysia.
The tennis team is poised to win more medals as they booked two finals yesterday.
Jordan Cimafranco, of Lanao province, advanced to the Men’s singles finals, after defeating compatriot Janji Soquiño, 6-4, 6-2. He will face top-seed, Adel Hakeem of Darwin in today.
Lominoque and Cimafranca also moved to the Men’s doubles finals after defeating Soquiño and Christian Tiongko, 6-4, 5-7, 10-6. They will face Australians Hakeem and Mark Graham in the finals.
In swimming, Menguito was the only swimmer from Team Philippines to collar a medal during the first day of hostilities in the event. She finished third in the 400 individual medley and in the 13-15 years old 100m butterfly.
At the Marrara Stadium oval, Pinanonang, took a silver medal in the men’s 400meter hurdles, finishing second to Indonesia’s Enos Furima.
