POOLED REPORT FROM THE PSA
MEDAL TALLY
(As of 7 pm of Dec. 10, 2013)
Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
Myanmar 17 6 7 30
Vietnam 7 4 7 16
Indonesia 5 8 7 20
Thailand 4 7 4 15
Malaysia 3 5 12 20
Philippines 3 5 3 11
Singapore 2 2 3 7
Cambodia 1 4 6 11
Laos 1 3 8 12
Brunei 1 0 0 1
Timor Leste 0 0 0 0
NAY PYI TAW – Daniel Parantac finally scaled the mountain he has long dreamed of, at the same time giving Team Philippines its lone bright gleam Tuesday in the 27th Southeast Asian Games at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium A here.
Parantac topped the two-event gold medal on his fourth try that capped wushu’s three-gold haul and somewhat salved the sting of Jason Balabal failing to defend his 84kg crown in wrestling’s Greco Roman and the more humbling defeats by PHL athletes in other fronts.
“Finally, I got the win,” said Parantac, a 23-year-old BS Education graduate, whose previous highest podium finish in the biennial meet since 2007 was second in the same event two years ago in Indonesia.
Parantac could only get the bronze his first two tries, but it was the 2011 edition that still nags at him.
“Leading din po ako noon pero nagkaroon ng knee injury and that cost me in the taijijian then,” related the find from Baguio City, who gave a glimpse of what to expect here by bagging the silver in the same sword event during last month’s Worlds in Kuala Lumpur.
The gold was laced by Natasha Enriquez and Kariza Kris Chan teaming up for the bronze in the women’s duilian a little later on, jacking the sport’s total contribution to the Philippine cause at three gold, as many silver and two bronze medals.
Garnering silvers were Divine Wally and Evita Elise Zamora in women’s sanda (sanshou) and the trio of Parantac, John Keithley Chan and Norlene Ardee Catolico in the men’s duilian, while Francisco Solis delivered the other bronze through the sanda.
Balabal, who is set to carry the country’s colors in Wednesday’s opening ceremonies, got foiled in his bid for a third straight Games gold when he got waylaid by a Cambodian grappler reputedly of Korean origin.
Koa Cheng Houng pinned the Ifugao native in the second round and eventually won the gold, while leaving the latter chasing the silver which he only pocketed with a pin-down a victory over Chinnawep Kanthalee of Thailand.
“Inaalat kami,” said national coach Roy Camposanto, adding that Balabal raced to a quick 3-0 start that was erased by the Cambodian pouncing on a little slip.
Newcomer Hermie Macaranas could only settle for the bronze in canoeing’s C1 1000m, bringing the country’s overall total so far to three gold, five silver and three bronze medals.
Myanmar continues to hold sway at the top of the standings with 17 golds, followed by Vietnam (seven), Indonesia (5), Thailand (4) and Malaysia, which only edged the Philippines from fifth by virtue of 12 third place finishes.
The Filipinos continue hoping for another just before Wednesday’s opening ceremonies when Jayson Valdes, Benny Cagurin and Emerito Concepcion, shooting’s token participation here, take part in the 50m rifle prone.
