Thursday, May 29, 2008 Filipinos advance to RC chopper finals
ALL the members of Team Philippines will get a shot at the crown as Alvin Alcantara, Mark Alcantara and Justin Neri entered the top 15 after the end of the preliminary rounds of the 2008 F3C Asia-Oceania Continental Championship–Remote Controlled Helicopters competition at the South Road Properties yesterday.
Alvin was still in fifth spot with 2,862.80 norm while Mark, who was ranked seventh the other day, finished at the sixth spot with 2,636.21 norm, overtaking Ko–rea’s Choi Won Ho who was held back at the seventh spot.
Neri finished at 15th to salvaged the last slot for the final round.
A judge was impressed with the performance of the Filipinos and proof of which is their advancing to the final round despite going up against formidable veteran foes, especially the Japanese pilots.
“I’m impressed with the performance of the Filipinos. They are still new to the sport but they are competing against the Japanese who have been flying for like 15 years. They’re very young and they will still improve,” said Phil Noel a judge from Canada.
Meanwhile the Japanese team proved that they are a force to reckon with after claiming the top four spots after the preliminary round.
Defending champion Manabu Hashi–moto stacked up a total of 3,000 norm while fellow teammates Minoru Kobayashi piled a total of 2,950.16 norm, Yukihiro Dobashi wasn’t far behind with 2,941.79 norm and Kazuyuki Sensui piled a total of 2,940.87.
Other flyers who moved forward to the final round were China’s Zhang Songhua, Yuen Yin On James of Hong Kong, Wang Shang-Jia of Chinese-Taipei, China’s Gou Wulie and Feng Shuai, Singapore’s Frederick Quing-Yuan Chong and Walther Qing-Xiang Chong.
The final rounds will start tomorrow until Saturday at the same venue. (EKA)
