DAMPENED HOPES: Filipinos settle for bronzes in rainy Nagoya

After Paris Olympics hero Carlos Yulo gifted the country with two gold medals in gymnastics, the Filipinos’ campaign had suddenly gone quiet as bets from sepak takraw and esports settled for consolation bronze medals in the 20th Asian Games in rainy Nagoya on Monday.

Composed of Jason Huerte, Jom Lerry Rafael, Reynaldo Asilum, Glindel Phori and Ronsited Gabayeron the Filipino takraw squad came up with a gallant fight early on but couldn’t handle the hot Malaysian squad that led to a 10-15, 15-11, 15-7 setback in the semifinals of the men’s regu team event at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium.

By virtue of a semifinal finish, the Filipinos were awarded with a bronze medal — a result that is similar to what they had in the previous edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, where they were also swept by the Malaysians in this indigenous sport that requires speed, agility and incredible reflexes.

But everything is not lost for the national takraw squad.

The troika of Jean Marie Sucalit, Abegail Sinogbuhan and Nelly Jay Salon will be marching to the warzone on Tuesday to confront Vietnam for the gold medal.

After finishing the eliminations with a 2-1 record before beating Laos, 15-12, 15-10, in the semifinals, the Filipinas are tipped to go hard as they try to become the first Filipino gold medalist outside Yulo, who clinched a pair of titles in floor exercise on Friday and vault event on Saturday.

Aside from the lady takraw bets, also tipped to win a gold medal is Ernest John Obiena, who will defend his title in the men’s pole vault event while shooting for a spot in Philippine sports history.

Obiena, the world No 11, will march to battle at 5:20 p.m., where he will shoot for the crown with the hopes of becoming the first Filipino back-to-back Asian Games gold medalist since the late Lydia de Vega-Mercado did the trick in the women’s 100-meter run event in 1982 in New Delhi and 1986 in Seoul.

Meanwhile, Sibol also clinched a bronze medal in the Honor of Kings (HoK) event after reaching the semifinal before losing to China, 2-0, at the Aichi Sky Expo.

The Filipinos struggled to keep pace with the Chinese, who had a significant advantage in experience, having played Honor of Kings since its launch in China in 2015, nearly a decade before the game reached the Philippines in 2024.

Despite the defeat, Sibol still secured the Philippines’ second esports bronze medal of the Games, following the Pokémon UNITE squad’s podium finish on Sunday.

“I’m extremely proud of my players because we still managed to win a medal. It’s a historic achievement for us, especially considering how difficult it was to face China, the top contender, in the semifinals,” Sibol coach Gerard Gelacio said.