Jins Rivero, Briones bag two more golds for RP

The vaunted taekwondo jins delivered again Thursday when two-time Olympian Toni Rivero and Alexander Briones copped the gold medals in their respective divisions in the 25th Southeast Asian Games at the National University’s Booyoung Gymnasium here in Vientiane, Laos.

Rivero, a veteran of the Athens and Beijing Olympics, toppled Nguyen Thi Dong of Vietnam, 2-1, in the women’s welterweight finals while heavyweight Alex Briones clobbered the taller Sorn Elit of Cambodia, 3-0, in the gold medal match to hike the RP jins’ total to three on the second day of the conclave. Rivero and Briones’ feat followed up the title romp of the lovely troika of Camille Alarilla, Rannie Ortega and Janice Lagman, who bagged the mint in the women’s poomsae team competition earlier Wednesday. Also putting up a good fight for the RP jins were Marlon Avenido and Kirstie Alora, who plucked the silver medals in their respective events. Avenido bowed to Luong Minh Dat of Vietnam in the men’s welterweight category while Alora yielded the gold to 2007 SEA Games silver medalist Rapatkorn Prasopsuk of Thailand in the women’s heavyweight class. But it was Rivero who clearly hogged the limelight with a rather easy win. Stepping on the mat oozing with confidence, the 21-year-old International Studies student from Ateneo De Manila took control early on en route to the victory. Though her Vietnamese foe tried to fight back, Rivero fortified her defense knowing that the gold medal was already within reach. "Nakauna kasi ako sa kanya kaya siguro puro pagsugod na lang ang nasa ulo niya. But I was ready so na-withstand ko ang attacks niya," related Rivero, who settled for the silver in the 2007 Thailand edition.“I maintained my lead and attacked at any given opportunity," she added. “I have never met her, but I heard that she’s good. Good thing I prepared hard to pull off this easy win." Action in taekwondo continues Friday with six gold medals from the men and women's featherweight, bantamweight and lightweight classes on offer. - GMANews.TV