PH sepak takraw team plucks second bronze in Asian Games

HANGZHOU, China—Make it two bronze medals for the Philippine men’s sepak takraw squad.

Headlined by veterans Jason Huerte and Rheyjey Ortouste, the team failed to hurdle Malaysia after dropping an intense back-and-forth match, 2-0, to settle for another third-place performance in the 19th Asian Games.

Mark Joseph Gonzales and Jom Lerry Rafael backstopped Huerte and Ortouste along with Ronsited Gabayeron, but the Malaysians couldn’t be denied in a 21-15, 21-11 victory in the men’s regu semifinal on Friday at the Jinhua Sports Centre Gymnasium.

The same cast likewise placed third in the men’s quadrant early this week as they contributed two bronze medals to the 12-bronze haul of Team Philippines in these Games.

Jujitsu warrior Annie Ramirez added another gold medal on Friday to the earlier victories of fellow jujitsu fighter Meggie Ochoa and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

The country also had a pair of silvers courtesy of boxer Eumir Marcial and sanda fighter Arnel Mandal.