Agatha Chrystenzen Wong of the Philippines competes in the women's taijiquan event at the women's wushu competition in yesterday’s 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. AFP

JAKARTA — The Philippines’ medal machine hums early and netted a pair of bronze medals as the 18th Asian Games went full blast Sunday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium at the heart of this bustling Indonesian capital.

The vaunted poomsae artists bowed to traditional powerhouse countries in the semifinals to put the country in the medal column in the formal day of hostilities of this prestigious quadrennial meet that is billed as the biggest multi-sport tourney outside of the Olympics.

Dustin Jacob Mella, Joerdan Dominguez and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. breezed through Iran and Saudi Arabia before collapsing to China, 7.830-8.180, in the semifinals to settle for the consolation bronze medal.

The trio of Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, Rinna Babanto and Janna Dominique Oliva delivered the country’s second bronze after falling to Unified Korea in the semifinals, 7.110-8.020.

Reyes, however, fell to Suvittayarak Pongporn of Thailand in the quarterfinals of the men’s individual event, 8.080-8.320, while Jocel Lyn Ninobla bowed to Chau Tuyet Van of Vietnam, 7.890-8.110, in the Round of 16 of the women’s individual event.

Still, head coach Igor Mella lauded his wards since this is the first time for the event to be played in this prestigious continental tourney.

“It’s unfortunate that we lost in the semifinals,” Mella told Daily Tribune’s Asiad coverage supported by Primehomes. Mella had coached the men’s squad to a golden performance.

“But we’re still glad that we got the bronze, especially since the event is being played in the Asian Games for the very first time.”

With the poomsae artists’ production, the Philippines barged into the medal tally early in the game.

As of 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila), the Philippines is in seventh place with two bronze medals behind Korea with two gold, two silver and a bronze medal, China with two gold and two silver medals and host Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Thailand, which have one gold apiece.

Iran is slightly ahead of the Filipinos with two silver medals after ruling the men’s and individual poomsae.

But the gold medal hunt of the Filipinos isn’t over yet.

Roxanne Yu was set to compete in the finals of the women’s 200-meter backstroke after emerging eighth in the preliminary heats in the morning races later last night.

She tallied two minutes and 19.12 seconds in the preliminaries to make it to the finals in the evening.

Hopes, however, are low as titans from China, Korea and Japan all submitted highly impressive clockings.

Action is still on going as of press time.

“I failed to beat my personal best of 2:18.45, but I’m still very happy with the way I raced,” said Yu, a senior Criminology student at University of Miami in the United States who will also see action in the 100-meter backstroke on Tuesday.

We had a good first set, but we struggled with errors, especially in our services and receptions, in the second and third set that led to our collapse.

“For me, every time I hit the water, surpassing my personal best is always my goal.”

Over at nearby GBK Volley Indoor hall, the highly popular women’s volleyball team formally made its return after a 36-year of absence.

Although it dropped a straight set heartbreak to Thailand, 22-25, 12-25, 15-25, the goal of gaining experience for future major international tournaments was met as the Filipinos pushed the Thais to the limit in the first set before suffering a massive collapse.

“We need a lot of experience in this kind of high level tournament,” said head coach Shaq Delos Santos following the match that lasted for one hour and 12 minutes with top sports luminaries, including Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, in attendance.

“We had a good first set, but we struggled with errors, especially in our services and receptions, in the second and third set that led to our collapse,” Delos Santos said.

The volleybelles will march to warzone anew as they clash with powerhouse Japan in their second match of the preliminaries on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, action also heat up in Palembang with Hagen Topacio firing 71 points to wound up tie for third with six other pistoleros after the first three rounds of shooting’s trap event at the Jabakaring Sports City range.

Also making an impact in the Sumatran capital was Jeson Patrombon, who flashed his vintage form en route to a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Nazario Fernandez Gusmao of Timor Leste in the men’s singles tennis match.

Then, he teamed up with another local ace in Francis Casey Alcantara to capture a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jabar Al Mutawa and Mubarak Zayid of Qatar in doubles play.

The first tandem of Alberto Lim and Marian Capadocia in mixed doubles, however, crashed out as Khamran Kaur Thandi and Divij Sharan of India punished it with a 4-6, 4-6 setback.

Actions, however, are still ongoing in other fronts as wrestling Alvin Lobrequito and wushu artists Agatha Wong and Divine Wally are still competing in their respective events as of press time.