JIU-JITSU specialist Marc Alexander Lim and Paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan of Davao City fell short of the gold medal, salvaging silver and bronze medals in separate ongoing international meets in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, respectively.
The 20-year-old Lim fell at the hands of Talib Saleh Mohamed Saleh Alkirbi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 0-2, in their 5th Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games men's Ne-waza -69 kilogram (kg) division gold medal bout at the Martial Arts Arena in Ashgabat.
Lim, a 2015 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships bronze medalist, first disposed of hometown bet Arslan Setdarow of Turkmenistan, 4-0, before routing UAE entry Ibrahim Abdulla Mohammed Alhosani, 3-0, in the quarterfinals and surviving past Thailand's Banpot Lertthaisong in the semifinals to arrange a titular showdown with Alkirbi.
“It would have nice to have ended it with a win, or at least 0-0 (referee’s decision),” Lim said.
“I’m very happy to have delivered a medal, but I would have been happier if it’s a gold, so I can’t really say that I’m happy with the silver,” Lim said in a PSC press statement.
Lim's silver finish saved the day for Team Philippines who absorbed several setbacks in Turkmenistan as Jonathan Maquilan bowed out in the quarterfinals of the men's traditional wrestling.
Jiu-jitsu fighters Hansel Terrence Co, Gilbert Ombao (men’s ne-waza -94kg), Apryl Jessica Eppinger (women’s ne-waza -62kg) and Lou-Ann Jindani (-70kg) were eliminated along with wrestlers Michael Vijay Carter (men’s classic -57kg), Cristof Hoffman Jr. (-90kg), Jefferson Manatad (-75kg), Grace Loberanes (women’s classic -52kg) and Noemi Tener (-58kg), taekwondo jin Ronna Levita Ilao and middle distance runner Marco Vilog.
Over in Kuala Lumpur, Gawilan opened his 9th Asean Para Games stint with a bronze in men's 400-meter freestyle relay event after registering four minutes and 41.58 seconds. He was joined by Arnel Aba, Gary Bejino and Roland Sabido in the relay team.
Indonesia clinched the gold with a time of 4:26.05 while Vietnam copped the silver (4:36.42).
Gawilan, who hails from Buda and also resided in Sasa before staying with nun in the Island Garden City of Samal, said he will compete in three other events - 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley (IM) and 100m butterfly events.
"Idepensa jud nako akong 400m free og 200m IM basta languyon lang nako ni hangtod tanan sa kaya (I will defend my golds in 400m freestyle and 200m IM, I will swim my best)," the 28-year-old said in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao.
In the Singapore Para Games 2015, he annexed two golds and one silver.