Pole vault champion E.J. Obiena stands proudly with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (PATAFA) head Terry Capistrano while the national anthem is being played during the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
Fil-Spanish Tolentino bags bronze in 110-m hurdles
PHNOM PENH— Fil-Spanish bet John Cabang Tolentino settled for the bronze medal in the men’s 110-meter finals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Morodok Techno Stadium here on Wednesday.
Tolentino admitted it was not one of his best performances in the 110-meter hurdles, topped by Thailand’s Natthapon Dansungnoen, who improved his bronze-medal finish in Vietnam last year.
The Thai took the gold in 13.82 seconds, with Ang Xien Chiang of Singapore taking the silver in 13.834 seconds.
Tolentino, who is preparing for the Spanish outdoor season in July, secured the bronze in 13.855 seconds.
Meanwhile, Edwin Giron, one of the team’s top gold-medal bets, slipped and fell near the 600-meter mark, dropping out contention in the men’s 800-meter run finals.
The 21-year-old Giron, who was grieving the recent death of his father, took the lead at the halfway mark of the race, and was about to pull away when he suddenly dropped to the ground with some 200 meters to go.
A University of the Philippines standout, with a bright chance of getting a gold here because of his outstanding times in recent weeks, was stretchered out of the stadium. He was crying as soon has jogged his way to the finish line.
Wan Fazri of Malaysia eventually claimed the gold medal in 1:53.87, a time which Giron has beaten in the past. He had a 1:51 during the last UAAP season and 1:52 in the recent National Open in Ilagan.
Vietnam’s Giang Van Dun took the silver (1:54.21), while Min Min Zaw of Myanmar placed third in 1:54.56.
The athletics team has so far garnered two golds, courtesy of Ernest John Obiena’s record leap in pole vault and Janry Ubas in long jump.
