SOLID SHOWING

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TRAP | Kim Mangrobang sparkles anew after winning her sixth SEA Games gold medal with a victory in duathlon yesterday in Phnom Penh.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Philippines went on a rampage again in obstacle course with two gold medal finishes in the men's and women's team relay while Kim Mangrobang prevailed in duathlon as competitions in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games intensified Sunday.
There were also big wins in karate and soft tennis as the Philippines continued to shore up its medal tally, something Philippine Sports Commission chairperson Richard Bachmann describes as a good sign given that a lot of the country's top gold entries have yet to strut their stuff.
Mangrobang, 31, clocked one hour, four minutes and 25.3 seconds to bag her second straight gold in the event and will aim for her fifth in triathlon on Monday in the city of Kiep.
The triumphs posted by Mervin Guarte, Ahgie Radan, Elias Tabac and Jay-R De Castro in men's event and Milky Tejares, Mecca Cortizano, Sandi Abahan and Marites Nosier in women's meant a sweep of all four golds in obstacle race.
Jamie Lim also joined the fray by topping the women's karate -61 kg kumite while Bien Zoleta and Princess Catindig stood out in soft tennis women's doubles.
Lim, daughter of basketball legend Samboy Lim, tripped host bet Vann Chakriya, 3-1, to regain the SEAG title before a highly-partisan crowd.
It was a memorable performance for Lim, who bombed out early in Hanoi last year.
"It feels good to win again," said Lim, who took a break from her studies in the United Kingdom to take part here.
Lim's production was karate's second gold following Sakura Alforte's triumph in the individual kata on Saturday.
"It looks like we are getting there. We are getting all these golds so far without the likes of (pole vaulter) EJ (Obiena), and (gymnast) Carlos Yulo. So, I hope the trend of the gold and silver medals will continue," Philippine Sports Commission chairperson Richard Bachmann said.
Apart from Obiena and Yulo, expected to beef up the Philippine medal tally in the coming days are Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno of weightlifting, who will be flying from South Korea after their Asian Weightlifting Championships stint this 3 to 13 May.
