FOR a 15-year-old, a new kid on the block at that, finishing third at the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is no easy feat.
Maiquel Jawn "Mikee" Teh Selga exceeded everybody else's expectations, including hers, when she salvaged a bronze medal for Team Philippines by registering 30.22 points in the boat-pulled women's open wakeboard finals at the Bedok Reservoir in Singapore Friday.
The Dabawenya rider, the youngest among six finalists, was behind more experienced and elder rivals Sasha Siew Hoon Christian of Singapore and Galuh Mutiara Maulidina of Indonesia who finished first and second, respectively. The 22-year-old Christian garnered 59 points while 16-year-old Maulidina earned 43.11.
"I feel great! I'm happy to be a bronze medalist in my first SEA Games," Selga, a Grade 9 student at the Stella Maris Academy of Davao (Smad) told Sun.Star Davao in a Facebook interview.
She added, "I only trained for two weeks but still managed to get a bronze."
Selga, daughter of architect Michael Anthony and Pretty, scored 9.44 in execution, 11.47 in intensity and 9.99 in composition. Selga's father Michael Anthony, on his Facebook, described her daughter's run in the finals: "Fell on the 1st trick over the slider, did a pack of grabs and switches along the course, made a full pull tail press blinding it out over the slider and a heel side FS 360 for the wild card but did not land it."
In a separate chat, the proud father's message to Selga: "Continue to inspire everyone. Remember your humble beginnings and never forget to thank the Lord. Continue to make us proud and the country proud."
The younger Selga, on her own Facebook, posted: "Managed to get the bronze medal for the open women's wakeboard individual! Thank you for all your prayers and support on my debut to the #28thSeaGames! Happy Independence Day to all Filipinos!"
Messages of congratulations and well-wishes flooded her Facebook page since the finals results were posted early afternoon Friday.
Her teammate Mark Howard Griffin also clinched a bronze in men's open wakeboard with 69 points while gold medalist Padiwat Jaemjan made 79.33 points followed by compatriot Tatsanai Kuakoonrat (72.11) who copped the silver.