THE Philippines overpowered Indonesia, 11-5, Friday in men’s wheelchair 3×3 basketball to jumpstart its campaign in the 12th ASEAN Para Games at the Elephant Hall A of the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh.
Sweet-shooting Kenneth Tapia and bull strong Alfie Cabanos led a decisive run that shattered a 5-5 deadlock to carve out the win for the Vernon Perea-coached team out to finally strike gold after a silver-medal effort last year in Surakarta, Indonesia.
“So far, so good,” said Perea, whose other players were Clifford Trocino, JR Escalante and Rene Macabenguil.
The Filipinos played host Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia later Friday.
The chess team, headed by Surakarta Para Games quadruple gold winner Sander Severino, wades into battle starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Royal University in rapid chess.
The Filipino chess players accounted for 10 of the 28 gold medals snared last year and coach James Infiesto is optimistic of their chances in improving, if not matching, that output.
“We’re hoping to improve from last time,” Infiesto said.
A ceremonial flag ceremony was held Friday morning that was attended by heads of the National Paralympic Committees, chiefs of mission and some athletes from the 11 participating nations including Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo and Philippine Sports Commission commissioner and ched de mission Walter Torres, meanwhile, led Team Philippines in Friday morning’s flag-raising ceremony at the Sports Village.
The opening ceremony is set Saturday with 50 Filipino athletes and officials marching behind flag-bearer Ariel Aligarbes of swimming.
Action intensifies Sunday with most of the 12 sports—including medal-rich athletics and swimming—unfurling mostly at the national stadium and two other venues in the Cambodian capital.
A total of 24 gold medals will be staked in Day 1 of athletics with 23 Filipinos seeing action.
“We’re ready,” national track and field coach Joel Deriada said.
Aligarbes, who won three golds last year, heads the 12-member swimming team that won 12 golds in Indonesia.
Battle-scarred Gary Bejino and Ernie Gawilan plunge into action in the 400-meter freestyle for S6 and S7 classes, respectively, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“Our goal is to make the country proud,” said national swimming coach Tony Ong.
