Sunday, December 09, 2007 SEA Games: RP duathletes, rower win golds By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
PHILIPPINES' defending champions bagged two gold medals in duathlon and rowing to lift the country's total medal haul in the ongoing 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to five golds, nine silvers and 13 bronzes as of Saturday presstime.
The country struggled at the fourth spot in the overall tally behind host Thailand that grabbed a confident lead with 38 golds, 33 silvers and 16 bronzes, while Vietnam was at distant second with 15 golds, seven silvers and 22 bronzes.
Philippine rowers Benjamin Tolentino, Jr. and Jose Rodriguez clocked 6:23.68 to beat Thailand's Ruthtanaphol Theppibol and Piyadanai Pantangthai (6:25.72) for the men's double sculls gold at the Mab Prachan Reservoir.
The Thai pair settled for the silver while the bronze went to Myanmar's Min Tun Kyaw and Ko Min Aung who registered 6:40.73.
Over at the Ambassador City Jomtien in Chonburi Province, Filipino bet Ryan Mendoza timed a total of 1:59:19.09 in the 10-kilometer run, 40km bike and five km run men's duathlon finals.
Mendoza snatched the gold over Thailand's Amnat Srichat (2:03:14.93) and Filipino compatriot August Benedicto (2:03:16.09) who took the silver and bronze, respectively.
The Philippine team earlier won golds courtesy of cyclist Joey Barba (men's downhill) and swimmers Ryan Arabejo (men's 200m backstroke) and Miguel Molina (men's 400 individual medley).
The Philippines salvaged the tennis women's team bronze at the 333rd Anniversary of Nakhon Ratchasima Tennis Court.
The Filipina netters won against Cambodia, 3-0, but lost to Indonesia, 0-3. Indonesia and Thailand will vie for the gold. (MLSA)
