Behind the Scenes of the Paulreyno Show

The Philippines medal haul so far is 53 Gold, 31 Silver and 37 Bronze, that is 121 medals in total ...Go guys.


Yesterdays results and reports so far

Ace pitcher Ernesto Binarao made a gallant show at the mound as the Philippine baseball squad cruised to its second straight victory with an 11-5 spanking of stubborn Indonesia at the Rizal ballpark.

The burly Binarao struck out 11 indon batters including four in the first four innings as the Filipinos raced to a 7-3 lead after seven innings.

The Filipinos added four more runs in the next frame to all but put the game away before the Philippine coaching staff decided to rest its foremost pitcher.
“I was expecting Binarao to pitch for five to six innings (only) but he gave all his best,” said RP head coach Edgar Delos Reyes.

Charlie Labrador took over from where Binarao left off and sustained the Filipino surge as Ruben Angeles and Roel Empacis added offensive back up while catcher Junnifer Pinero provided the leadership inside the diamond.

“I think our catcher (Pinero) did a great job. He listened to me and he did his best,” said Delos Reyes. “He pumped up the team by talking to them; malaking bagay yung teamwork ng pitcher at catcher.”

Empacis started the scoring charge with a doublet before Nino Tator and Jonash Ponce showed some of their own,as they held the Indons scoreless until the top of the third inning.

When Indonesia battled back to tie the score at 3-all, Binarao struck out Indons Rully Pernanto, Agus Supriatna, Elia M. Kasih and Andospa Saputra one after the other to key that 7-3 attack that put the Filipinos comfortably ahead, 11-5.

Indonesia’s Chindy Yudharana also did a stellar job on the pitcher’s mount to prevent the Philippines from break ing away early in the game until he was relieved by Muhammad Akbar in the seventh inning.

It was Indonesia’s second straight setback after losing against Thailand last Monday.

Four-gold sweep by RP jins

Cheered on by their home crowd, Filipino jins swept all four gold medals at the start of taekwondo Monday in what looks like an ominous title drive.

Veterans Donald David Geisler, Mary Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go and debuting Esther Marie Singson turned the crowd into frenzy as they clinched their respective gold medals.

Geisler, an Athen’s Olympian, secured a 7-6 victory against Thailand’s Patiwat Thongsalap in the men’s lightweight division finals, for his third SEAG gold.

In the women’s lightweight crown, Olympian Rivero never showed signs of letting up and nipped Indon Goppy Trismawanty, 5-1.

Unable to score in the first two rounds, Go unleashed a late kick and a game-winning counter 45 against Vu Ahn Tuan of Vietnam, registering a 2-1 victory in the men’s bantamweight final.

Not to be left behind, Singson, a varsity standout, downed Juana Wangsa Putri of Indonesia, 4-2 to clinch the women’s bantamweight title.
Geisler and Rivero were among those who won a gold medal in the 2003 Sea games in Vietnam along with Dax Alberto Morfe, Margarita Maria Estela Bonifacio and Veronica Domingo.


Overwhelming Support goads team Philippines to victory

Good crowds, impressive performances.

That’s the way things have been for Team Philippines in the ongoing 23rd Southeast Asian Games as Filipino athletes continue to reward the overwhelming support of their countrymen in various venues with scintillating performances that has put the country inexorably in front of the overall race.

In response to the call of no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to cheer for the nation’s athletes, huge crowds have been filling the venues to the rafters in support of their athletes, elating Malacanang no end.

In a statement Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye encouraged Filipinos to keep on cheering for Team Philippines.

“As our athletes continue to rake in more gold medals, let us fill every home and sport venue with cheers for Team Philippines,” he said.

Proving to be the No. 1 cheerer is President Arroyo, who last Monday visited the Rizal track oval to congratulate the Filipino athletes for their inspiring performances.

She personally shook the hand of steeplechase winner Rene Herrera as well as the other Filipino gold medallists after two days of intense action.

Bunye acknowledged the importance of supporting the nation’s athletes.

“President Arroyo herself is making the rounds of the games to lift the spirit of our athletes who are valiantly aiming for supremacy in their respective fields.

At the end of Day 2, the Philippines shows the way in the 11-nation field of the nine-day meet with 25 gold medals, way ahead of now second running and defending champion Vietnam.

Tennnis beauties glide way to quarterfinals

Fil-Americans Denise Dy and Riza Angela Zalameda pulled through in their respective elimination singles matches Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Under the sizzling heat, the beautifully tanned Dy finished off Kyi Mya Zaw of Myanmar, 6-1, 6-3 while the 19-year-old Zalameda, in her usual yellow top and hoop earrings, prevailed over Vietnam’s Viet Ha Ngo, 6-1, 6-5.

“Out of all my teammates, I’m the youngest so I feel kinda nervous today, but luckily, I pulled it through,” said the16-year-old Dy, armed with her cheerful smile.

“I think I’ve more experience (than Viet-Ha Ngo) ‘cause I’ve been playing for three weeks now, so I’m pretty much tough than Ha Ngo,” said Zalameda.


Though dazzling in the heat, Zalameda was visibly irritated during the second set of the match, squeaking and cursing at her every mistake.


“Well, I knew there were shots that I should’ve executed by then, so just a little frustration,” Zalameda explained.

“Well, I knew there were shots that I should’ve executed by then, so just a little frustration,” Zalameda explained.

Revenge win for Filipino strongman

Ferrera rules again!

Arniel Ferrera claimed what he said was rightfully his Tuesday when he won the hammer throw event in record fashion before a cheering crowd that included the First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

The 24 year-old Ferrera heaved the hammer to a distance of 60.47 meters, a new SEA Games record, eclipsing the 58.80 of Malaysian strongman Wong Tee Kue established in 1993.

Another Filipino entry, Jerro Perater completed the 1-2 finish with a throw of 53.44 to edge out third placer Yong jarus Kanjus of Thailand which could only do 52.74.

Ferreria admitted he prepared himself well but he was not confident enough that he could pull it off.

“Sabi ng mga kasama ko, sure win na daw, sabi ko ganun pa man, di ako confident, ayokong sabihin ang gold na wala pang game, ayokong mag-predict,” Ferrera said.

It was a sweet comeback for the burly Ferreria whose 1991 title was stripped from him by Wong in the Vietnam games two years ago.

Pagunsan wants another shot at golf glory

Filipino golf standout Juvic Pagunsan opted to stay as an amateur for one good reason. He wants another shot at glory in the Southeast Asian Games.

“Parang hindi kasi kumpleto ‘yung amateur career ko kung hindi ko maidedepensa ang korona ko sa SEAG. Puwede na sana akong mag-pro ngayong taon, pero napag-isip-isip ko na pagkatapos na lang nitong Sea Games,” said the dusky 21-year-old pride of Davao.

Pagunsan won the men’s individual title in 2001 in Jakarta and had to wait for four long years to defend the title following the scrapping of golf in the sports calendar in Vietnam.
And the wait, he believes, is over.

“Matagal kong hinintay ito, kaya pinaghandaan kung mabuti. Kung kondisyon ang paguusapan, tamang-tama ang dating nito sa akin,” said Pagunsan, moments after his practice round at the demanding layout of the exclusive The Country Club.

Pagunsan will be up against the best and brightest names in the amateur circle which includes Malaysian sensation Ben Leong and 2005 Singapore Amateur Open champion Choo Tze Huang, who incidentally is paired with Pagunsan in flight No.5 for the opening round Thursday morning (Dec. 1)

Women’s competition, meanwhile, tees off Friday.

The Par-72, 7,689-yard course was a fitting battle ground for Pagunsan’s title defense.

“Very demanding. Although hindi masyadong mapuno, kailangan maingat. Bagay si Juvic dito dahil long hitter naman siya,” said international rulesman Jake Ayson.

Despite, the loss of Artemio Murukami who turned pro this year, Ayson said the Filipinos are capable of surpassing the 1 gold, 2 bronze medal haul of the RP golfers in the Jakarta Games.

“The RP team is mixture of youth and experience. We have a strong chance here. Mabigat ang laban sa individual event, but Juvic is ready,” claimed Ayson.

Pagunsan’s record and achievement here and abroad speak for themselves.

Pagunsan dominated the field in the amateur open and placed third as guest amateur in the tough RP Open – a tournament which was part of the Asian PGA Tour this year.

Aside from Choo and Leong, who has trained in the Leadbetter Academy in Florida, other top challengers for the gold are the duo of Thai bets Pornpong Phatlum and Nakarintra Ratanakul.

Other members of the team who will try their luck for individualglory are Jay Bayron, Michael Bibat, and Marvin Dumandan.

Not to be outdone are the women’s team composed of Ana Imelda Tanpinco, Jayvie Agojo and Frances Bondad.

Riders, karatekas contribute to RP medal haul


DANAO CITY – unlike some lucky athletes, rider Maritess Bitbit did not have
the honor of having President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheering by her side
when the women’s cross-country event of cycling was ran here Tuesday but
the gritty Filipina emerged triumphant nevertheless, winning the race one
hour, 49 minutes and 54.91 seconds.

Bitbit beat Jantharat Jirapon of Thailand (1:53.40.90)and Vietnamese Thanh
Dam Nguyen (2:01.19.72), who settled for the silver and bronze medals,
respectively.

The President, however, arrived in time to personally award the glittering
medal.

She motored back to Cebu City to rest before proceeding to Bacolod City to
likewise cheer the Filipino athletes.

Men’s downhill rider Frederick Feliciano and Eusebio Quinones, won the silver
and bronze, respectively, behind eventual gold winner Dai Nurchayadi to cap
the country’s two-day campaign on the mountain bike track.

On Monday, Joey Barba and Michael Borja took the silver and bronze medals,
respectively, behind gold medallist Sugianto Setyawan of Indonesia in the
men’s downhill event.

Coming up with a pair of bronze finishes were Gretchen Malalad in the
women’s open weight kumite and Mae Eso who beat Chanmsouda Phetsiriseng of
Laos, 8-1 in the women’s –48kg individual kumite. Eso earlier lost a close
4-5 decision to Vietnam’s Vietnam's Vuthi Nguyet Anh in the semifinals.
Malalad won the +60kg kumite on Monday.

Not so fortunate were Bernard Chu and Ireneo Toribio who failed to reach
the medal round.

The Philippine Karate team wound up with two gold medals, including the
one won by Malalad in the +60 kilogram kumite on Monday, and seven bronze
medals.

Thai, Filipino fencers in tight duel


Never say die.

Fencers from Thailand and the Philippines went head to head in an intense battle for gold in day two of the South East Asian Games

In the women’s foil, RP’s Veena Nuestro struggled to get the gold from Thailand’s Nunta Chantasuvannasin.

The match was intense. The clock had to be reset five times since the contenders would end the other four with equal points. The Thai team was even given a yellow card before the match drew to a close.

“Sobrang nahirapan ako[ I really had a hard time],” gold medalist Nuestro said. “Halos maiyak na ako dun... Hindi nga lang kita kasi naka-mask ako, [I almost cried... It just didn’t show because I was wearing a mask.”

It was, however, worth Nuestro’s efforts because just when the match became all the more intense, and there were few seconds left in the clock, she aced a score, ending the game at 10-9, her favor.

Meanwhile, SEAG gold medalist for two consecutive meets and foremost RP bet Walbert Mendoza faced Miradech Khotny of Thailand in a fight which ended in a long discourse between Thailand’s coaches and the referee.

Mendoza had to face team mate Gian Carlo Nocom before gaining a slot in the finals.

“Mas gusto ko sana kami yung nagharap sa finals, ” Mendoza said. “Syempre, para gold or silver lang sana.”

Tuesday, it was Vietnam which the Filipino Fencers had to look out for. Although they were positive that Mendoza will emerge the winner in his match against Khotny, the Philippine team was still ecstatic.

“Syempre pasan mo yung badera,” Mendoza said.

GTK Army in the forefront anew of RP breakaway

by Gemma Limpin (with reports from Lyka Tadeo and Jenny Hipolito)

Seven golds, two Southeast Asian Games record.

And it looks like it ain’t over yet for the so-called GTK Army in athletics as it continued its
marauding run Tueday with two more victories—including one in record fashion –as the
Philippines continued to pull away in the overall race of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

Athletics’ performance so rubbed off on Filipino campaigners from as far as Cebu
down south to Los Banos in Laguna that the hosts were able to jack up its haul
to as many as 40 gold medals, the most by any nation in the nine-day meet among
11 nations.

Wrestling, wushu and fencing likewise contributed two victories each while karate, shooting,
bowling, cycling, billiards, taekwondo and swimming added one apiece in yet another productive
day that kept the opposition at bay.

As of 9 p.m. Vietnam was holding on to second spot with 17 golds while Thailand continued to
close in at third with 15. Malaysia dropped to fourth with 13 followed by Indonesia with 9.

Trackster Arnel Ferrera’s record heave in the hammer throw and sprinter Jimar Aying’s victory in
the 400 meters jacked up athletics’ three-day haul to seven golds – the most by any other
Filipino contingent -- and only three short of the target of its foremost benefactor, Go Teng Kok
with 21 events still to be disputed in the centerpiece event in the next two days.

Ferrera again justified his claim as the region’s hammer throw king with a heave of60.47 meters,
beating countryman Jerro Perater for the gold in a fitting follow up to Henry Dagmil’s record-
breaking victory in the long jump Monday.

‘I’m optimistic we can surpass our gold medal output in Vietnam. There are still events which we
have a strong chance of winning,” said Go.

Noteworthy among the other Philippine triumphs Tuesday were victories of Maritess Bitbit in the
women’s cross country of cycling, Nelson Pacalso’s win in the karate men’s kumite (65 kgs.
and below) down in the Queen City of the South as well as Miguel Molina’sbreakthrough win in
swimming (400 meter individual medley) at the Trace Aquatics Center in Laguna.

Also aiding the Filipinos’ gold cause were bowler Cecille Yap (singles), fencers Walbert Mendoza
(men’s saber) and Weena Nuestro (women’s foil), wrestlers Jimmy Agana (66 kgs) and Francis
Villanueva (120 kgs), sprinter Jimar Aying (400 m), wushu artists Aida Yang and Vicky Ting
(taolu-duilian), shooter Juanito Angeles (practical shotgun) and taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora
(featherweight).

The gold medal was the third straight for Mendoza since the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games while the
rest won their first ever SEA Games golds.

None of them was striking however, as the one Ferrera pulled off early in the morning at the Rizal
Memorial track oval.

The 24-year hammer thrower outdid himself on the field, breaking the old SEA Games record four
times in six attempts, eventually saving his best for last by heaving the new meet mark on his
final attempt.

“Talagang kundisyon ako para dito sa SEA Games. Alam ko kaya kong i-break `yung record after
mag-register ako ng 58.61 meters sa Incheon,” said Ferrera, referring to the heave he did in the
Asian track and field championships in South Korea last September that gave him the new RP
record.

Ferrera’s effort yesterday improved the 12-year SEA Games mark of 58.80 meters owned

The Filipino already surpassed the mark in his second attempt when he did 59.76 meters, then
followed it up with 59.48 (3rd) and 59.66 (5th) prior to his winning throw.

Its going to be another hectic day in the battlefield Wednesday when no less than 64 gold
medals are to be disputed.

Athletics offers 13 golds , wushu 12 followed by taekwondo (6), wrestling (6), swimming (6),
fencing (3), billiards and snooker (3), table tennis (3), diving (2), badminton (2), bowling (2),
gymnastics (2) and shooting (2).