THREE more gold medals—two coming from swimming were added to Team Philippines’ coffers at the 12th ASEAN Para Games on Monday in Phnom Penh.
Gary Bejino had another record-breaking performance this time in the men’s 200-meter freestyle of S6 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium’s Aquatics Center.
He clocked two minutes and 38.55 to erase the old record of 2:45.99 set by Myanmar’s Aung Myint Myat last year in Indonesia.
Channi Wongnonthaphum of Thailand took silver in 2:53.10 while Thanh Hai Do of Vietnam settled for bronze in 2:54.23.
“It’s my first time to compete in 200 freestyle and I’m happy that I won gold,” said the 27-year-old native of Tabaco, Albay.
Bejino, who delivered the country’s first gold medal in the 400 freestyle Sunday, could pile up golds in three more individual events plus the 4×100 medley.
“I think I have a good chance. I will do my best,” said Bejino, who won three medals at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Para Games.
Ariel Joseph Alegarbes won the men’s 50m butterfly S14 in 26.69 seconds, beating Malaysians Bryan Lau Sze Kai (27.060) and Muhammad Imaan Aiman (27.530).
It was the second medal for Alegarbes after the silver he clinched in the 100 breaststroke Sunday.
Ernie Gawilan (men’s 100m backstroke S7) and Edwin Villanueva (men’s 50m breaststroke SB7) settled for bronze medals.
In athletics, Cendy Asusano threw the javelin to 13.74 meters in women’s throw F54 to collect her second gold medal.
Marites Burce got silver medal with 11.96 while Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy bagged bronze with 11.56.
The other silver medalists in athletics were King James Reyes (men’s 1500 T46), Jolan Camacho (men’s long jump) and Jesebel Arevalo (women’s javelin F55).
The Philippines ranked fifth in the medals race with 11 gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals before sundown on Monday.
Indonesia led with 39 golds, 33 silvers and 27 bronzes followed by Vietnam (26-21-29), Thailand (22-27-19) and Malaysia (19-13-7).
