THOMASIAN athletes made modest contributions in the country’s dismal performance in the 16th Asian Games in in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 27.
In the Philippine contingent’s 16-medal haul, tourism alumnus Engelberto “Biboy” Rivera struck gold with 1,414 pinfalls, 10 points ahead of silver medalist Mohammed Algreebah of Kuwait.
Former Tiger Jim Tshomlee Go and 19-year-old Paul Romero chipped in a bronze medal apiece in the men’s under-63 kg and under-58 kg categories, respectively.
In all, the Philippines collected three gold medals, four silver, and nine bronze and finished 19th out of 34 countries in the regional meet.
Rivera, who graduated from UST in 1997, was the first to grab a gold medal followed by national team member Frederick Ong, who nailed a bronze with a 1,390 total.
It was a sweet comeback for the Filipino bowlers, who failed to reap a single medal in the 2006 Doha Asiad.
Just last October, Rivera placed third at the 46th Quebica-AMF Bowling World Cup in Toulon, France, making him the top Asian player in the event. His success in the World Tenpin Masters in 2006 ended the Philippines’ 26-year title drought in the world bowling championships.
In combat sports, Go flaunted his taekwondo prowess after trouncing Tajikistan-based jin Khursav Giyosov in the quarterfinals. But he settled for bronze after bowing down to Korea’s Dae Hoon Lee in the sudden-death semifinals round.
Romero of the College of Commerce duplicated the bronze-medal finish after he fell against Chen Yang of Chinese Taipei in the semifinals, 3-0. The loss was partly blamed on a torn muscle in his right hamstring.
“I am very happy because I have contributed in the medal tally; not to mention this [Asia Games] is my first major international competition,” he said in Filipino.
Also joining the taekwondo contingent were UAAP Season 72 Athlete of the Year Marlon Avenido, Season 73 MVP Camille Manalo, and Lady Jin Jade Zafra.
In judo, former Lady Judoka Karen Ann Solomon pinned down Libyan Louize Bourached in the -70 kg category but a series of losses did not allow her to qualify for the next round.
Third-year Food Technology student Charisse Palma got the chance to carry the Philippine colors in the women’s 50m rifle prone event.
Although she failed to clinch a medal in her event, the 19-year-old athlete showed promise.
“I was really after the experience,” said Palma, who was only on her first Asian Games. “I got to meet a lot of people. I learned to be independent and to handle pressure especially with the absence of our coach during the tournament.”
The young Palma has been to three other international events: South East Asian Shooting Championships (where she placed sixth overall), Singapore Open Shooting Championship (where she placed seventh), and the prestigious World Cup.
In softball, former UST Softbelle Esmeralda Tayag also played as a relief pitcher for the rookie-laden RP Blu Girls squad in the tournament.
“The RP team for softball will have a difficult time with experienced teams from China and Japan, but their stint as UAAP players will be big help because of their exposure to the games,” coach Sandy Barredo said in Filipino.
The Blu Girls defeated their Thai rivals in the preliminary round, 1-0, but yielded to South Korea and eventual champion Japan.
In billiards, 29-year-old accountancy graduate Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit, the first Filipina cue artist to win the World Pool Championship, was also lined to represent the country for the 8-ball and 9-ball category.
Amit outlasted Mongolian contender Uyanga Battulga in the preliminary round of the woman’s 8-ball pool singles however failed to deliver against Ga Young Kim of Korea.
An unfortunate Amit also loss her first match in the 9-ball pool singles against Xiaoting Pan, who eventually bagged a gold medal.
