Monday, December 10, 2007 Dacera eyes gold in swimming
NIKITA Decera of the Philippines topped the heat of the men's 400-meter freestyle in swimming Saturday morning in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Dacera, who hails from General Santos City, clocked four minutes 10.77 seconds and will go for the gold later in the day at the Aquatic Sports in Nakhon Ratchasima.
It was actually a 1-2 finish by the Philippines in the morning heat as another Filipino, Ryan Arabejo, emerged with the second best time of 4:11.20.
Minghe Marcus Cheah of Singapore topped heat 1 with his 4:11.25 but this was still a third best clocking overall.
Arabejo had already bagged one gold medal when he won the 200-meter backstroke.
The Philippines, the defending champion in the biennial meet, is still way, way off pacesetting Thailand in the medal tally with only 15 golds, 15 silvers, and 30 bronze medals to show thus far.
Thailand has 48 golds, 54 silvers, and 27 bronze medals, while Vietnam is at distant second with 24 golds, 11 silvers and 29 bronze medals.
Singapore is at third place with 17-15-12 gold-silver-bronze medal tally. (CRAM)
