SPORTS PH settles for silver in oorball

PHNOM PENH—Team Philippines fell to a tough Thailand stand in the third and final period and absorbed a 2-3 loss on Tuesday in the men’s floorball finals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the competition venue of the Dinosaur Alive Theme Park in Chroy Changvar District here.

A late goal from Simon Johansson, struck home in the 39th minute in the th ird period, allowed the Thais to escape for the third straight time.

Despite the loss, it was still the Philippines’ best finish after placing fourth in 2015 and 2019.

“It was a tight game. We made a few mistakes. That made the difference today,” said coach Noel Mendoza.

The Filipinos took the lead early, drawing strength on Kim Franz’s attack in the 20:58 mark in the second period.

The Thais then equalized in the third period, behind Johansson, who scored in the 30:46 mark for a 1-all tie.

Then, Franz assisted Melvin Mendoza for the Philippines’ second goal in the 32:07 mark, for a 2-1 score.

Thakit Kavairit then broke through at 36:07 to keep the Thais close with a 2-all deadlock, before Johansson came through with the deciding point.

The Filipinos earlier upset Thailand, 6-4 in the Group Stage.

“Lumaban ang men’s team. ‘Yung goal natin gold. Nakita natin na kaya. And we almost got it. Pero mabilis ang scoring, and the momentum changed quickly,” said Philippine Floorball Association president Ralph Ramos.

Earlier, the Philippine women’s team settled for the bronze medal with their 4-2 victory over Malaysia.

Peter Atencio

Full IRONMAN, 70.3 races back in Subic

A MIX of seasoned campaigners and rising endurance racing stars gear up for another riveting duel of power, speed and stamina when the Century Tuna (Full) IRONMAN Philippines and the IRONMAN 70.3 are held back in Subic Bay next month.

Close to a thousand bidders from at least 33 countries, including 33 from Japan and 15 from the US, have so far confirmed their participation with the total cast expected to double or triple with still four weeks left before the sport’s centerpiece event is fired off on June 11 at the world-class Subic Bay course.

Registration is ongoing. For listup and details, visit www.ironman.com/ ironmanphilippines or www.ironman. com/im703-subicbay.

The full IRONMAN PH race, set over the punishing 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42km run distance, has lured an early roster of 339, including 89 bets in the 4549 age group division. Other age categories (male and female) are 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75-and-above.

Five hundred and two triathletes, on the other hand, are listed in the early Subic IRONMAN 70.3 roster, including 92 i n the 40-44 age bracket. They will dispute the titles in various categories over the 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run.

“We are excited to provide these triathletes another great racing experience and at the same time showcase once more the best the country can offer,” said Princess Galura, general manager of the organizing The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. Also on tap is the IM 70.3 relay event. SEI and Century Tuna staged the first full IRONMAN in 2018, also in country’s triathlon capital with Nick Baldwin from Seychelles ruling the event in eight hours, 50 minutes and 13 seconds and Aussie Liz Blatchford topping the women’s division in nine hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds.

August Benedicto emerged the best Filipino finisher with a clocking of nine hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.

Czech Petr Lukosz took the top honors in last year’s edition of the full IRONMAN PH following a two-year break due to pandemic with local ace Ines Santiago scoring a wire-to-wire win in the distaff side.