Thursday, December 04, 2008 Silver that shines like gold By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam -- It was a silver medal that glittered like gold as Mindanao came through with a breakthrough finish in sepak takraw, emerging second in the doubles against a very tough field in the 6h Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMM-Eaga) Friendship Games that came to an end Sunday in this oil-rich nation.
Mindanao, composed of Davao City players Joeben Aton, Johnel Parangan and Alex Barrios, stunned Central Sulawesi, powerhouse Palawan, and Sarawak in registering its highest achievement in the sport in the history of the Games.
Aton, Parangan, and Barrios had a chance to capture the gold, but the trio ran into a determined South Sulawesi side in the championship match and lost a tough 24-25, 16-21 decision.
Still, the silver sparkled like gold for it was a big conquest for the Mindanao bets, and coaches Nilda Sebellino and Jolly J. Laboy couldn't be happier with the performance of the players.
"I'm happy for the boys. They really played hard and they all deserved what they got. We beat the tough teams out there, including Palawan, and I'm proud of my players," Laboy said.
Davao City Councilor Peter T. Laviña, head of the Mindanao delegation in the three-day meet, watched the finals match Sunday morning at the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex, venue of the sepak takraw event which is a 45-minute drive from the heart of the city.
Laviña, who is also the team manager, and a group of Filipino athletes cheered the team from the stands; some Brunei athletes even waved miniature Philippine flags during the contest.
"They played their hearts out. I salute the Mindanao players for their performance," Laviña said.
Aside from Aton, Barrios, and Parangan, the team is also composed of Mark Stephen Ong and Melbert Icoy. Mindanao also saw action in the regu event, but lost several tough matches, including one to eventual champion Sabah.
Laboy said all the hard work of his players paid off here. He thanked the City Government of Davao for making the trip of the Davao athletes possible.
This early, the team is planning to present the silver medal to Davao Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as soon as they arrive in the Philippines. The sepak takraw team and the rest of the Mindanao and Palawan delegations were treated to a sumptuous merienda Monday afternoon at "Ang Bahay," the official residence of Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Virginia H. Benavidez, before flying back to Manila.
