
MANILA – Filipino surfer Roger Casugay got a fitting ending to his memorable Southeast Asian Games campaign after taking home the gold medal in San Juan, La Union.
The 25-year-old Casugay, who hailed from La Union, recovered from an early mishap in his all-Filipino finals in the longboard event against Jay-R Esquivel to clinch the gold yesterday.
Casugay suffered a broken board early in his heat, which Esquivel took advantage of to pull away in points.
But aboard a spare, Casugay quickly made up for lost time and closed the heat with a win over his fellow La Union surfer.
Earlier in the day, Casugay battled Indonesian Arip Nurhidayat in a rematch of their Friday ride. It was postponed to Sunday when Nurhidayat’s surfing leash snapped and Casugay had come to his aid.
Also winning gold was Nilbie Blancada in the women’s shortboard.
John Mark Tokong of Siargao claimed bronze in men’s shortboard. Ikit Agudo won silver for women’s longboard and Daisy Valdez clinched two bronzes for women’s shortboard and women’s longboard.
The Philippine women’s softball team, meanwhile, notched its tenth consecutive gold medal after defeating Indonesia, 8-0, in the finals yesterday at The Villages in Clark, Pampanga.
The Blu Boys, on the other hand, were not as fortunate. They settled for a silver medal after a 6-1 defeat to Singapore in the final. The Philippines thus fell short in its bid to sweep the SEA Games softball competition for the first time since 2013.
In women’s 10-ball, Chezka Centeno clinched the gold medal by defeating fellow Filipina Rubilen Amit in the championship match late Saturday evening, while skateboarder Christiana Means netted her first gold medal.
Team Philippines also scored two gold medals in soft tennis with Noelle Manalac taking the women’s singles gold before teaming up with her sister Bambi Zoleta for the doubles gold. Princess Catindig and Edrilyn Peralta went home with the bronze.
Melcah Caballero captured her second gold medal after ruling the lightweight women’s sculls, while Jhondi Wallace and Susan Larsson winning golds each in wakeboarding, with Raphael Trinidad and Samantha Bermudez taking silver and Ralph Villaro and Christian Joson with bronze.
Lester Tayong and Emerson Villena went home with a gold medal in men’s sailing, while Rhe Gie Lyn Bayano and Coleen Ferrer finished with silver in women’s while the tandem of Brandhon Aquino and Jericho Marbella had bronze.
In taekwondo, Jeordan Dominguez netted a gold medal finish in the men’s poomsae individual freestyle. Janna Oliva had silver in the distaff side, while the trio of Rinna Babanto, Aidaine Laxa and Jocel Lyn Ninobla ended up with bronze in team event.
In swimming, veteran Jasmine Alkhaldi netted bronze medals in 100-meter backstroke and 50-meter butterfly before settling for a silver finish with Remedy Rule, Nicole Oliva and Xiandi Chua in 4×100-meter relay. Chloe Isleta finished with silver in 100-meter backstroke.
Reymond Alferos, Edgardo Alejan, Maureen Schrijvers and Robyn Brown had bronze in 4×400 meter relay, while Kim Miranda and Alexis Mayag also had bronzes each in muay thai.
Karatedo also produced bronze medals from Sarah Pangilinan, Jayson Macaalay, Joanne Orbon, Mae Soriano and the trio of Nicole Dantes, Ronaldene Flores and Rebecca Torres.
Also with bronzes were Diogenes Avila in shooting, Edgardo Ilad and Roque Abala Jr. in rowing doubles, Princess Arbilon and Michael Comaling in penthathlon, and Renzo Feliciano in skateboarding./PN