PHL sailors in good position in respective events

Sailing’s Rubin Cruz Jr. and the duo of Ridgely Balladares and Richly Magsanay took strategic positions in the first two of 10 races in sailing on Thursday at the 2nd Asian Beach Games in the Al Mussanah Sports in Muscat, Oman. Cruz was a marked man after topping Race 1 of the Laser Radial open division despite the challenge of local entry Musab Al Hadi, but managed to stay within the Top 5 with a fourth place finish in Race 2 for a net of 12 points. Leading the 24-man pack is Malaysia’s Harisfabillah Muhamat (eight points), winner of Race 2, while in close pursuit are India’s Jasvir Singh and another Malaysian, Muhamad MD Jais, both with 11 points. Cruz returns to action on Friday for Races 3 and 4 starting at 12 noon (4 p.m. Manila time). Balladares and Magsanay displayed maturity and composure in placing fourth and third in the Hobie 16 open races topped by the Thai tandem of Damrongsak Vongtim and Kitsad Vongtim, and Oman’s duo of Akram Adaiyam Al Wahaibi and Hashim Al Rashdi. The other Hobie 16 Filipino pair, Joel Mejarito and Rommel Chavez, struggled with ninth and 10th place finishes and was 10th overall among 11 competitors. Also competing on Friday are Teodulfo Villaflor and Harold Hanz Loriega in woodball, a golf-like game played on the sand with similar terminology, but which has yet to catch the fancy of most Filipinos. Other Filipino entries in sailing were not as impressive, including Australia-trained Reneric Romero in the RSX class where he had a quick re-union with tormentors from the recent Guangzhou Asian Games. Romero placed last among 10 competitors in Race 1 and only slightly improved in Race 2 with an eighth place finish. He finished eighth overall after both races, which were dominated by China’s Fang Zhennan and Shi Kun Chuan, who wound up at first and second, respectively. Techno class entry John Harold Madrigal was ninth and 10th in the first two races. He needs to make a move in the last eight races if he hopes to overtake current leader Wei Bipeng of China, who topped both races. Youthful marathon swimmers Jose Joaquin Gonzales and Erika Kristy Lukang, after a frustrating stint in the 5-kilometer contest, compete in the more grueling 10-km race in another venue, Barr Al Jissa Qantab. Meanwhile, Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose Cojuangco Jr. met with Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Al Hamad Al Fahad Al Sabah to discuss the documentary requirements in hosting the Asian Beach Games. The OCA chief had committed to Cojuangco the hosting of the Asian Beach Games in 2013 should the Philippines declare readiness for the event. “We will determine if all the necessary documents have been provided, and by the time we return to Manila we will confer with prospective partners for the possible hosting of the Asian Beach Games," Cojuangco said. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV