20th place finish not an indication of medal chances in Southeast Asian Games
BY EMIL C. NOGUERA, CORRESPONDENT

HANOI: The Philippines finished in 20th place with 10 medals highlighted by Annie Albania’s gold medal feat in boxing in the Third Asian Indoor Games, which officially ended on Sunday here.

Besides Albania’s gold, the 23-man Philippine contingent also won four silver and five bronze medals.

“The Asian Indoor Games is not a gauge of how we are going to perform in the SEA [Southeast Asian] Games. It’s a good finish considering we only sent 23 athletes and competed in six sports disciplines,” said RP Chief of Mission Julian Camacho.

Southeast Asian counterpart and host Vietnam wound up second overall with 42-30-21 just six golds behind powerhouse China (48-25-19).

Other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia places fourth and ninth with 19-17-34 (gold-silver-bronze) and 6-3-14, respectively, while Laos ended in a surprise 13th with 3-8-14, Malaysia landed in 15th place with 3-5-8, and Singapore at 18th with 1-7-3.

Swimmer Miguel Molina missed a bronze medal in the men’s 100-meter individual medley with a time of 55.51 seconds, which was good for fourth.

Dmitriy Gordiyenko of Kazakhstan won the event in 54.87 seconds while compatriot Artur Dilman took the silver medal with 55.10 seconds. Thailand’s Radomyos Matjiur ranked third with 55.25 seconds.

“The Thai swimmers entered here are very good,” said the 2007 Thailand SEA Games Best Male Athlete who also won a silver in the 200-meter individual medley.

“I’m tired and disappointed. I felt I could have done better but it is what it is,” he added.

The 25-year-old Molina will banner the strong RP swimming team in the upcoming 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos. He will defend his crown in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter breaststroke.

“It’s work time when I get back. I will put on hard work, keep my head down and hopefully it will pay off.

I still have a month to prepare for the Laos SEA Games where I hope to win at least one gold medal,” said Molina.

Other medalists are sanshou artist Rhea May Rifani, boxing with Mitchel Martinez and muay Thai fighter Maricel Subang (silver), and muay Thai members Zaidi Laruan and Jay Harold Gregorio, boxer Josie Gabuco, sanshou artist Jennifer Lagilag and bowler Biboy Rivera (bronze).

The participation of the country in four sports—boxing, muay Thai, chess and bowling—was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman Harry Angping.