PHNOM PENH. – Jiu jitsu fighter Jenna Kaila Napolis broke the ice for the Philippines Thursday while Angel Gwen Derla ended the day with a rousing win in an ancient Cambodian sport in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center here.
Napolis, 25, swept all her four assignments in the women’s ne-waza GI 52kg class, including the gold medal showdown against hometown bet Jessa Khan 2-0, shocking a huge crowd expecting a huge win by their countrywoman, a 2018 Asian Games gold medalist.
“It was surreal. I still couldn’t believe I won,” said Napolis, who scored a revenge of sorts, having lost to Khan in the gold medal match of the 49kgs class in the 2019 Games in Manila.
Derla shared the day’s honors by winning a gold medal in the female bamboo shield artistic form of kun-bokator, an ancient Cambodian martial art making its debut in the games, where another Pinoy entry, Mark James Lacao, won a silver.
Going into the official opening ceremony Friday, the Philippines was running second in the medal tally (as of 8 p.m.) with a haul of two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, with first-time host Cambodia leading the way with four gold and four silver medals. Thailand was running third with one gold, one silver and one bronze, followed by Laos (1-0-2).
“I really wanted to win against her this time,” said Napolis, who scored the clinching point in the dying seconds that relegated Khan to the silver medal.
“One big congratulations for one of our female athletes breaking the ice for Team Philippines in these SEA Games,” said Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who advocated for a female-dominated contingent in the parade of athletes during the Games’ opening ceremony on Friday.
Philippine Sports Commission chief Richard Bachmann had the wonderful privilege of awarding the country its first gold medalist in his first official major international function as chairman of the government sports agency.
“I had the privilege of being in the medal ceremony for our first gold medal winner, Kaila.
Congratulations once again,” Bachmann said.
“I also want to congratulate Harvey and Karl for bringing in the first medal of Team Philippines. It is such a thrill to start counting medals and see how the hard work of our athletes are translating into these victories. Job well done!” Bachmann added, referring to Karl and Harvey Navarro who won a bronze in the form event of jiu jitsu.
Napolis opened her campaign with a 50-0 win over Singapore’s May Yong The, then thumped Thailand’s Nuchanat Singchalad, 3-0, and Vietnam’s Thi Huyen Dang 50-0.
Dianne Ruado Bargo and Isabela Dominique Montaña also won a bronze in the form event of jiu jitsu.
The Navarros lost their matches to Thailand’s Nawin Kokaew and Panuawat Deeyatam, 68-63.5; Cambodia’s Kongmona Mithora and Touch Pikada, 66-59; and Vietnam’s Dinh Khai Ma and Ke Duong Trinh, 64-59 but went home with the bronze, along with the Vietnamese.
Bargo and Montaña also went home with the bronze medal in the women’s contest after scoring 40.00 behind eventual gold medalist Kunsatri Kumsroi and Suphawadee Kaeosrasaen (48.000) of Thailand and Cambdia’s Heng Seavheang and Tin Sovanlina (42.5000) of Cambodia.
Obstacle racers stayed on course for their four-gold target as the team’s aces advanced to the men’s and women’s team relay finals at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center Car Park a day before the games formally opens at the Morodok Techo Stadium, a 60,000-seat structure built in the shape of a “sailing boat” with two sharp structures reaching almost 100 meters into the sky and surrounded by a moat in the ancient Angkor style.
A day after forging all-Pinoy championships in the individual men’s and women’s categories, the quartet of Jayr De Castro, Mervin Guarte, Elias Tabac and Ahgie Radan and female counterparts Mhick Tejares, Sandi Abahan, Tess Nocyao and Mecca Cortizano took care of business to earn their spots in Sunday’s finale.
The men’s team, which qualified as No. 2 in the heats with a time of 25.866 seconds, will dispute the gold with Malaysia’s Ghalib Mohamad Azimi, Mohd Redha Rozlan, Nuur Hafis Said Alwi and Yoong Wei Theng, who submitted the fastest qualifying clocking of 25.6236.
The ladies clocked 40.1780 in the preliminaries and arranged a title duel with Indonesia’s Anggun Yolanda, Ayu Pupita, Mudji Mulyani and Rahmayuna Fadillah, who had the best time of 35.0435.
The Obstacle Sports Team’s finals qualification came on the heels of the record-breaking runs of Mark Rodelas and Precious Cabuya in individual play, where they are pitted in a Philippines-vs-Philippines golden showdown against 2019 champ Kevin Pascua and Kaizen dela Serna, respectively.
If successful, the delegation will complete another sweep of the SEA Game action. Back in 2019, they scooped all six golds at home.
Obstacle course coach Kristian Guerrero said: “We’re doing good, all individual and team relays will battle for gold on May 6 and 7, so we’re doing okay.”
