Sad start for RP in Youth Games

MANILA – The Philippines lost two potential medals in top tennister Jeson Patrombon and taekwondo jin Kirk Barbosa as both fell to foes at the opening hostilities of the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Sunday’s heartaches started with La Sallian Kirk Barbosa, whose late-game efforts were not enough to stop a taller Gili Haimovitz of Israel in the 48 kg division.

Patrombon, on the other hand, failed to leverage on a first set upper-hand and bowed to China’s top guy Boen Ouyang 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, to crash out in the singles division at the rain-drenched Kallang Tennis Center.

The 17-year-old netter would have inspired the nine-man RP contingent but Patrombon lost firepower, conceded the second set and trailed the decider, 1-5.

RP chief of mission Mark Joseph said that Barbosa even lost his cool in the end after the match referee allowed the Israeli to stop the duel.

“He lost his temper at the end because the referee did not command them to fight while the Israeli stalled,” said Joseph, who is also the country’s aquatics chief.

“Young kids are emotional and they show it. We saw the same in other sports. It’s a different dimension. But coach (Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz) says Kirk did his best and had to overcome two head kicks and a six-point gap but his spirit never broke,” he added.

Meanwhile, tanker Jessie Lacuna will concentrate in his favorite event--200 m freestyle while Jasmine Al-Khaldi, will debut in her pet event, the 100 m free at the Singapore Sports School’s aquatic center.

The three-on-three basketball team composed of Fil-Am Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., Jeron Teng, Cris Michael Tolomia and Michael Pate, for their part, plunges to action also on Monday against the US Virgin Island.

Patricia Llena, the country’s flag bearer, will see action in the 63-kilogram class of weightlifting on Tuesday at the Suntec Convention Center.

Sports officials also pinned their hopes on the 16-year-old nursing student following her performance Asian Weightlifting Championship in Dubai where she snared three silver medals. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

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