MANILA, Philippines?The Philippines wrapped up its campaign with two more gold medals in the team competition Friday and dominated the 2008 Southeast Asian Archery Federation Championships at the Ateneo open field.
Men?s individual recurve champion Ian Wayne Larsen powered the RP trio in the men?s team event, while rookie revelation Kristina Bismark led the women?s compound squad as the Philippines collected a total of six gold, four silver and five bronze medals in the two-day tourney.
Larsen teamed up with Marvin Cordero and Paul de la Cruz in overwhelming Myanmar?s Zao Win Hpike, Yan Aung Soe and Ngay Myo Aung, 208-198, in the title match of men?s recurve team competition.
Bismark, who earlier secured two bronze medals in the individual compound, combined with Abbigail Tindugan and Arlene Infante in the team event to down another seasoned RP troika in the all-Filipino finals.
?It was an exciting match because the archers were evenly distributed,? the 20-year-old Bismark said after her group nipped the RP squad bannered by former Olympian Jennifer Chan, Quinnie Cabuguason and Geraldine Cabral at 216-209.
Bismark and company pulled ahead, 158-156, at the penultimate stretch, before sealing their victory with a 58-53 score in the fourth and final end.
The Philippines, though, settled for a silver in the women?s recurve as Rachelle and Marie Francisca Cabral and Joann Tabañag bowed to Indonesia?s Ika Yuliana Rochmawat, Erwina Safitri and Wahyu Setia, 192-184.
Unlike Larsen, Earl Benjamin Yap failed to pull off a double-gold victory after his crew wound up third in the men?s compound team event.
Yap, who captured the gold in the men?s individual compound a day earlier, barely secured the bronze with Christian Cubilla and Rosendo Sombrio after nipping Indonesia?s Puruhito Gusti Nyoman, Kuswantoro and Andyanto Fanny at 221-220.
Vietnam clinched the gold in the men?s compound with Tien Cuong Nguyen, Vie Pahn Vu and Thanh Puan Nguyen posting a 224-220 decision over Malaysia ?s Mek Hoo Koo, Leong Fong Ting and Pech Kim Soo.
