Judo nets two golds as Philippines inches closer to sixth-placer Singapore

Naypyitaw, Myanmar—A battle-tested warrior out to prove he’s far from finished and a teenage judoka with immense potential struck gold yesterday, sparking Team Philippines’ late assault for sixth spot in the 27th Southeast Asian Games here.

Judoka Gilbert Ramirez reclaimed the title he last won eight years ago, while 16-year-old Kiyomi Watanabe, tipped to be the future of the sport in the country, ruled her division in style at Zayar Thiri Indoor Stadium as the Philippines equaled their modest target of 25 gold medals with a couple of days remaining in the Games.

With sailing delivering a silver and a bronze and the fancied taekwondo team also managing a couple of bronze medals, Team Philippines stayed at the coattails of Singapore with a 25-gold, 30-silver, 32-bronze count in this chilly Burmese capital.

Singapore added one gold to its tally, raising its harvest to 26-25-36 in the overall race still dominated by Thailand (86-86-68), followed by host Burma (Myanmar) 69-52-65 and Vietnam (66-70-71).

POSSIBLE GOLD
A third gold for the day could come in women’s 10-ball billiards, where World Women’s 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit was playing Indonesia’s Angeline Magdalena in the finals as of press deadline.

“The target remains 30 gold medals and wherever it may take us,” said chef de mission Jeff Tamayo. “That goal is within reach, but whether it would be enough to get us sixth remains the big question. One thing is for sure, our athletes will continue to do their best for those gold medals.”

With little to cheer about at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium’s taekwondo arena, the Filipinos found their saving grace at Zayar Thiri Stadium in the outskirts of the city, where Ramirez and Watanabe sparkled.

Summoning his old, deadly form, Ramirez executed a bone-crushing armbar to perfection, leaving Thailand’s Banpot Lertthaisong to tap out in the men’s under-73 kg finals.

It was a sensational victory for the 28-year-old Ramirez, who ended an eight-year gold medal drought in the event he ruled in Vietnam in 2003 and in Cebu in 2005.

Showing skill and strength beyond her years, Watanabe grappled Thi Hua Bui of Vietnam into submission, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the match with 1:30 remaining.

“She’s very determined,” said judo coach Rolando Llamas of the Filipino-Japanese teenager, who won a bronze in the Asian Youth Games early this year – a feat that gave her a spot in the Youth Olympic Games next year.

“She’s the future of the sport. She’s young and has plenty of years ahead of her. But the passion is already there.”

Judo actually had three fighters in gold medal matches, but Jenielou Mosquedo bowed to Om Pongchaliew of Thailand in the finals of the women’s under-57 kg category.

Sailing came through with a couple of silvers after skipper Richly Balladares and Ridgely Magsanay wound up second to a Thai pair in the men’s International 470 class at Ngwe Saung Beach, where another Filipino bet Geylord Coveta grabbed another silver behind a Thai titlist.

Taekwondo jins Pauline Louise Lopez and Paul Romero bowed to their respective semifinal rivals for a couple of bronze medals.

Lopez, the women’s under 53kg champion in the 2013 Asian Youth Games, suffered a shutout loss to Vietnam’s Thanh Thao Nguyen, 0-4, while
Romero, a bronze medalist in the 2010 Asian Games, yielded to Malaysia’s Ryan Chong Wu Lunn, 4-6, in the men’s under 63kg.

Taekwondo is still in contention for five golds with Francis Agojo (under 54 kg), Kristopher Robert Uy (under -87 kg), Mary Anjelay Pelaez (women’s under 46 kg), Jane Narra (women’s under 73 kg) and Kristie Alora (women’s over 73 kg) jins seeing action Saturday – the same day muay bets Philip Delarmino, Jonathan Polosan and Preciosa Ocaya vie in finals matches.

Bright gold medal prospects Angelo Gabriel Gumila (men’s -90 kg) and Ruth Dugaduga (women’s +78 kg) are also competing in judo. /inquirer