Dennis Orcollo, wrestler, butler pair strike

[gangster]

World champion Dennis Orcollo did not disappoint Monday, humbling hometown hero Ricky Yang to capture the men’s 8-ball singles title at the Ogan Permata Indah Hall.


Long jumper Henry Dagmil leaps his way to a silver medal finish in the SEA Games Sunday in Palembang. Dagmil registered a leap of 7.78 meters on his fourth attempt to improve his bronze medal show two years ago in Laos. (Albert Garcia)

Two other gold medals came in wrestling and bridge as the Filipinos went home empty-handed in Jakarta for the second straight day.

After four days, the Philippines sits on sixth place with 8 golds, 14 silvers and 18 bronzes.

At presstime, Danilo Fresnido was defending his javelin throw title and the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay squad was gunning for the gold in athletics.

Orcollo, also the reigning Asian Games champion, surprisingly had an easy time disposing of Yang, 7-2, after nearly being eliminated in the quarterfinals Sunday.

“Akala ko todas na ako sa unang laban ko. Pero binigyan pa ako ng pagkakataon,” the 35-year-old Orcollo recalled, referring to a foul that prevented Chan Keng Kwang of Singapore from going up, 5-0.

He went on to post a 7-5 win and ousted Muhammad Zulkifri of Malaysia, 7-4 in the semifinals.

Orcollo, whose participation was in question until last month, said it is always an honor to play for the country.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon sa pagkakataon na manalo ako para sa bayan,” said Orcollo who had to rush to the airport to catch a flight to Jakarta on his way to Japan for a tournament.

Iris Ranola, taking the cudgels for the eliminated Rubilen Amit, advanced into the women’s 8-ball final by whipping Angeline Ticoalui of Indonesia, 5-3.

Ranola faces Amanda Rahayu, the Indonesian who stunned Amit, 5-4, in the quarterfinals.

Wrestler Margarito Angana beat Van Bien Dong of Vietnam in the 55 kg. Greco Roman final at the Gedung Serba Guna, Jakabaring.

“Kumpiyansa din kasi. Kaya namin mga kalaban. Malaking tulong ung training abroad lalo na sa Bulgaria,” said Angana.

Another gold slipped off the Filipinos’ grasp in wrestling when Michael Baletin got beaten by Van Khoa Khong of Vietnam in the 76kg Grego Roman final.

The butler pair of Gerry Alquiros and Dr. George Soo bested a field of 17 tandems to account for the first gold medal in bridge, the only card game recognized as a mind game by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Bridge also produced a bronze courtesy of the women’s team made up of Gemme Tan, Viksi Egan, Anne de Guzman, Rose Unson, Mylene Encontro and Sylvia Alejandro.

In athletics, Arniel Ferrera became the second Filipino to lose his title when he was beaten to second place by Thai Tantipong Phetchai in the men’s hammer throw.

Diving and karate delivered a pair of silvers, taekwondo brought in a silver and two bronzes while cycling and swimming chipped in a bronze apiece.

Nino Carog Bedoya and Jaime Asok earned 342.99 points to place second behind Malaysians Yeoh Ken Nee and Bryan Nickson in the men’s 3m springboard event held at the aquatic center of the Jakabaring sports complex.



--MB