By Peter Atencio
PHNOM PENH— Fil-Spanish bet John Cabang Tolentino and Fil-American Natalie Uy settled for bronze medals in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Morodok Techno Stadium here on Wednesday.
Tolentino admitted it was not one of his best performances in the 110-meter hurdles, topped by Thailand’s Natthapon Dansungnoen, who improved his bronze-medal finish in Vietnam last year.
The Thai took the gold in 13.82 seconds, with Ang Xien Chiang of Singapore taking the silver in 13.834 seconds.
Tolentino, who is preparing for the Spanish outdoor season in July, secured the bronze in 13.855 seconds.
Meanwhile, Uy cleared a final height of 4.0 meters to get the bronze medal in the women’s pole vault action.
Attempts at 4.05 in two tries and 4.10 meters in one were made, but were unsuccessful.
Uy’s performance was better than the 3.6 meters Alyanna Nicolas did last year when she claimed the bronze medal in the Hanoi SEA Games.
Choniticha Khabut of Thailand took the gold medal on a better countback after she and Sarah Adi Nor of Malaysia both hit 4.05 meters.
Meanwhile, Edwin Giron, one of the team’s top gold-medal bets, slipped and fell near the 600-meter mark, dropping out contention in the men’s 800-meter run finals.
The 21-year-old Giron, who was grieving the recent death of his father, took the lead at the halfway mark of the race, and was about to pull away when he suddenly dropped to the ground with some 200 meters to go.
A University of the Philippines standout, with a bright chance of getting a gold here because of his outstanding times in recent weeks, was stretchered out of the stadium. He was crying as soon has jogged his way to the finish line.
Coach Jojo Posadas said Giron hurt a tendon and received treatment for his supposed injury as soon he was stretchered out.
“Nabalian ng tendon. Medyo pagod at napuyat. Namatay iyung tatay nu7ng isang araw,” said Posadas.
Wan Fazri of Malaysia eventually claimed the gold medal in 1:53.87, a time which Giron has beaten in the past. He had a 1:51 during the last UAAP season and 1:52 in the recent National Open in Ilagan.
Vietnam’s Giang Van Dun took the silver (1:54.21), while Min Min Zaw of Myanmar placed third in 1:54.56.
The athletics team has so far garnered two golds, courtesy of Ernest John Obiena’s record leap in pole vault and Janry Ubas in long jump.
