Wushu leads Team PH’s medal breakthrough

Wushu artists, led by Jean Claude Saclag and Daniel Parantac, continued to display their brilliance even as celebrated Gilas Pilipinas passed its initial test in the men’s basketball event with ease in an eventful campaign for Team Philippines on Tuesday in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Saclag gave the Philippines the earliest and brightest hope for a gold medal as he defeated India’s counterpart Narender Grewal 2-0 in their semifinals match and earned the right to face Chinese bet Hongxing Kong for the men’s -60kg Sanda in the finals on Wednesday at the Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium.

Aside from his lofty bid of delivering the country its first gold medal in the 17th edition of the continental meet, Saclag is also eager to avenge the painful semifinals loss of compatriot Franciso Solis to Zhao.

Already assured of a bronze medal, Solis lost by default to China’s Fuziang Zhao, as his broken right rib was aggravated following his quarterfinal win against Wong Ting Hong of Hong Kong.

“He (Solis) still wanted to play. He said he wanted to get a shot at the gold medal, but physicians have warned him against playing even yesterday (Monday), but he still went to claim the sure bronze,” shared Deputy Chief of Mission Julian Camacho, who is also serving as the secretary general of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines.

It was Parantac, however, who earlier gave the lean, 150-strong delegation something to cheer about when he claimed silver in the men’s Taijiquan and Taijijian event, coming up with 9.68 points behind Chinese bet Chen Zhouli, who displayed a near-flawless performance and earned 9.78.

Both Saclag and Parantac shared center stage with Gilas Pilipinas, which banked on a ferocious 16-to-nothing start then easily staved off India’s last-ditch fightback for an 85-76 at the Hwaseong Sports Complex Gymnasium.

Naturalized import Marcus Douthit, a last-minute inclusion to the team after preferred choice finished with a team-high 14 points, while five other local teammates scored in double figures to help the Nationals prime up for their explosive Group E clash with reigning FIBA-Asia champion Iran on Thursday.

“I’m happy with the result, but I’m not happy with the way the guys played,” said Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes.

“Except for that opening 16-0 run in the opening frame, I think the Indians beat us the rest of the way,” he added.

Whether it wins or loses against the favored Iranians, Gilas Pilipinas is already assured of a quarterfinals seat.

Outside of them, the Nationals tried hard but struggled in different fronts.

Swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi could only finish fifth-best in the heat in the women’s 100m butterfly, clocking at one minute and 2.34 seconds, way behind topnotcher, Chen Xinyi of China, who registered just 58.56 seconds.

Alkhaldi placed ninth overall and could only vie for a medal if one among the eight finalists withdraw.
In bowling, Frederick Ong is running at 12th while teammate Jo-Mar Roland Humapao is 35th among 52 entries in the men’s singles squad A.

Squad B had Kenneth Chua at 20th, Enrico Lorenzo Hernandez at 23rd, Engelberto Rivera at 25th and Benshir Layoso at 40th in a field of 51 players.

In the men’s individual compound ranking of archery, Paul Marton Dela Cruz is running at fourth, Earl Benjamin Yap is 19th, Ian Chipeco 25th and Jose Ferdinand Adriano 30th in a field of 56.

In the women’s individual compound, Abbigail Tinduggan is at 16th, Amaya Amparo Cojuangco at 18th and

Joann Tabanag at 24th in a field of 38 archers.

In rowing, the men’s doubles sculls team of Roque Abala, Jr. and Alvin Amposta bombed out of the repechage.

Meanwhile, the national boxing team finally plunges into action on Wednesday, hoping to improve its 1-1-1 gold-silver-bronze medal haul in the 2010 Asiad edition held in Guangzhou, China.

Lightweight Charly Suarez goes up against Uzbekistan’s Elnur Abdurimov while Mario Fernandez takes on Thailand’s Doncha Thathi in a bantamweight duel.