BRUNEI -- Dabawenyo Mark Anthony Caseñas saved the best for last, winning Mindanao-Philippines' lone gold medal in the final day of the 10th BIMPNT-Eaga Friendship Games athletics competition at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan here late Saturday evening.
Mark Anthony Caseñas, 18, who hails from Tugbok District in Davao City, registered 6.77 meters to nail the men's long jump gold medal over South Sulawesi's Bastian (6.70m) and Mel Vean Majuang (6.62m) of Sabah.
A Grade 12 student at the University of Mindanao (UM), Caseñas said he made his best record in his final attempt.
"Gi-expect ko na makuha ang gold after sa ikatulong ambak kay nag-una nako. Kahilakon ko gabii sa kinalasang ambak nako (I expected to win the gold after the third jump as I was already leading. I was teary-eyed during my last jump)," he told SunStar Davao in an interview at the Wafa Hotel and Apartement, the temporary residence of the Filipino delegates here.
It can be recalled that last Friday, the team suffered a medal shutout.
Caseñas said that their coaches led by Emilio "Toto" Lacanaria conducted a meeting after the first day action debacle.
"Disappointed si Kuya Toto kay wala mi kakuha og medal tong unang adlaw. Para kay kuya ni nga maski na-disappoint sya gi-ingnan mi nya nga ienjoy ra namo og ihatag among best (Kuya Toto was disappointed but he still told told us to enjoy and give our best)," he said, adding that his coach guided him throughout the competition.
He also dedicated his gold to his grandfather who passed away last January 2018 and to his grandmother who also died in September.
In the distaff side, Andrea Annabela De Guia salvaged a bronze in women's 800-meter. She timed 2:26.57, trailing behind gold medalist Marlin William of Sabah (2:25.72) and Dwi Dara Wahid of South Sulawesi (2:26.05).
She also bannered the women's 4X400m relay team to another bronze performance with Diana Mae Memoracion, Joanna Marie Agudo and Angelica Villanueva.
Meanwhile, Palawan's Jhon Lloyd Cabalo lived up to his promise by bagging the men's 800m gold after topping the men's 400m.