Yulo claims 3rd all-around gymnastics’ gold in SEAG

By Peter Atencio

PHNOM PENH—Carlos Yulo won his third individual all-around gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games and helped his teammates claim another silver medal on Monday in opening day hostilities of the men’s artistic gymnastics meet at the National Olympic Stadium here.

Banking on strong scores in the floor exercise (14.350), vault (15.00), parallel bars (14.00) and rings (14.150) to offset his mediocre output in the pommel horse (12.650) and high bar (12.90), Yulo ended the day with the best individual tally of 84.00 points at the Olympic Stadium. He finished way ahead of Vietnamese Thang Tung Le and Phung Tanh Dinh, who settled for the silver and bronze medal with scores of

Sibol grabs

1st esports gold of PH

PHNOM PENH—The Philippine Sibol team went beyond expectations, sweeping all of its three encounters, to finish with a 3-1 victory over Vietnam in the League of Legends: Wild Rift event for its first esports gold in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the NagaWorld 2 Integrated Resort Theatre here.

It was a stunning win for the Filipino esports players, who went winless in the Wild Rift event of the Vietnam SEA Games last year.

Led by Chammy Nazzarea, a member of Nigma Galaxy, Sibol got off to a great start with a 3-0 demolition of Singapore in the semifinals.

Then, a 3-2 stopping of Vietnam in the upper bracket finals sent the Filipinos, also composed of Aaron Bingay, Justine Chan, Gerald Gelacio, Van Alfonso and Reniel Angara, into the goldmedal match.

Vietnam, spearheaded by Hậu “Akeno” Hồ Trung, fought off Cambodia, 3-0, in the lower bracket finals, to reach the gold-medal round against the Filipinos.

“So far so good. We hope this helps set the tone for our entire SEA Games run,” said Philippine Sibol general manager Jab Escutin.

Filipino gamers will next plunge into action in the mixed team event of Crossfire.

80.45 and 78.150 points, respectively.

“Masaya po ako. Binigay po naming lahat nang makakaya namin para madepensahan ito,” said Yulo, who had a higher tally of 85.150 on his second successful title defense last year in Hanoi.

“I’m happy with the result because I had two weeks to prepare. I was able to do it and I’m so thankful,” Yulo said. “Training in Manila helped a lot because it’s so hot here in Cambodia.

Our preparation helped us to get ready 100 percent.”

Yulo and Team Philippines, along with replacement gymnast John Romeo Santillan managed to get a silver with 305.2 points.

An almost intact Vietnamese side, with only one gymnast replaced, reclaimed the gold medal with 313 points.

“They did well. They had a great execution of routines,” said coach Reyland Capellan.

Phuong Than Dinh settled for the individual allaround brone with 78.150 points.

Yulo’s other teammate Juancho Besana was fifth with 73.70 points.

Gwyn Timbang, John Ivan Cruz and John Santillan, who took the place of Matthew Vergata, also contributed points for Team Philippines.

The 23-year-old Yulo will seek two more podiums in the parallel bar and high bar.

Longtime Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee leads the Gilas squad, making his debut in SEA Games play. The naturalized player saw action for Gilas in Window 6 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Also in the team are PBA players Christian Standhardinger, Chris Newsome, Arvin Tolentino, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

Collegiate players Mason Amos, Jerom Lastimosa, and Michael Phillips have also been included in the final roster.

Gilas’ bid to reclaim the gold will be a challenging one, with defending champion Indonesia bringing in former PBA import Lester Prosper as one of their naturalized players.

Host Cambodia is also bent on winning another SEA Games gold after ruling the 3x3 event last Monday, with naturalized players Sayeed Pridgett, Brandon Peterson and Darrin Dorsey leading the way.

“That’s the nature of the competition. We just have to make the best and play the game,” said Philippines coach Chot Reyes following Monday’s practice.