IN THEIR international debut, the UST Tiger Dragons made the University and the country proud when they won the bronze medal in the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival (12-man crew, Junior category) at the Teluk Bahang Dam in Malaysia last May 26-28.
The victory came sweeter for UST because the team is not even a year old but, it still managed to register a podium finish in their first shot at global rowing.
In the finals, the Tiger Dragons logged in at two minutes 58 seconds. First placer Bangkok Thailand Dragon Boat Team finished at two minutes 50 seconds, while Malaysia’s Tamman Perban Daran clocked in at two minutes 55 seconds.
UST was the last of the block and trailed up until around the 300-meter mark, but still kept pace with the rest through consistent strong paddling.
“That is what we intended,” Tiger Dragons team captain Chris Cueto said. “I told the team to row at a slower pace but lower their paddles to take in more water and thus conserve the team’s energy.”
Around the 350-meter mark, the UST rowers secured the third place, but with Tamman Perban Daran ahead of them by 50 meters. The Tiger Dragons then stood and increased the rowing pace. They closed the gap with Perban Daran to around a meter, but still came up short. The Bangkok Thailand Dragon Boat Team led throughout the race.
In the semifinals, the UST Rowers spoiled the defending champs when they finished at two minutes and 53 seconds, their best time throughout the race. Malaysian Pacific West fell behind at three minutes and four seconds.
“We may have not gotten the gold, but beating the defending champs in the semis can still be considered as a win,” Cueto said.
All the 18 teams that participated in the category were divided into three groups. The Tiger Dragons had a bridesmaid finish in their designated group with a time of three minutes and four seconds, behind eventual runner-up Tamman Perban Daran (2:52). The top teams from each group immediately plays in the finals. The rest were relegated to the semifinals where the three other teams can qualify in the finals.
“Teams are not out there to row for fun or to get a gold medal for their club,” UST rower Miggy Canillas said. “They are representing their countries and that powers us to give our best shot.”
Prior to their Malaysia stint, the Tiger Dragons snagged the gold medal in the Jam 88.3 Dragon Boat Regatta Annual Chamionships last May.
