By Wilfred Jotojot and Jay Palces, The Benildean reporters
In the midst of strong competition against fellow neighboring countries, two Benildeans took home medals during the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held last December 6 to 16 at Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand .
In her field of taekwondo, Kirstie Elaine Alora bagged the silver medal in the women's 59kg category.
The 18-year old featherweight withstood tough competition amidst rumors of game-fixing before and during the tournament proper.
“Sa Thailand, sobrang kabado ako kasi nababalita na maraming dayaan na nangyayari. Kabado rin ako kasi baka ako ‘yung mapiling dayain, pero hindi ko na masyado inisip ‘yun. Nag-focus lang talaga ako, “ Alora said.
After disposing her opponents from Laos and Thailand, the 2005 Manila SEA games gold medalist entered into a finals rematch against long-time rival Hoai Thu Nguyen Thi of Vietnam.
Both jins were already familiar with each other’s game as they have fought twice in different occasions. In their first meeting, Alora crushed Thi for the gold during the 2005 SEA Games. However, Thi got back at the Filipina during the 2008 Olympic Games’ Asian qualifying stage to deny her of a stint at the Beijing Olympics.
Unfortunately, it was Thi who emerged victorious and defeated Alora, 5-3 for the gold medal in Thailand. Despite of the loss, Alora maintained that the match was fairly officiated and that the Vietnamese did improve her game.
The Export Management major started to play the sport when she was only six years old and has come a long way since then.
Since joining the national team when she was in third year high school, the featherweight has also appeared in other international tournaments like the World Championships, Asian Championships and Asian Games.
She did not have a hard time in choosing De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), also known for its excellent sports programs, as her college.
“Marami akong friends sa taekwondo na nag-aaral dito tapos nandito rin ‘yung gusto kong course [Export Management],” the Laguna native explained.
Alora could only thank the Benildean community and coaches Roberto Cruz and Stephen Fernandez for her victory.
The first dan black belter promises to further hone her skills as she prepares for her first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament and to achieve her dreams of becoming a world and Olympic champion someday.
Team Philippines finished sixth, their worst in history, in the 10-country bi-annual tourney pitting the best athletes in Southeast Asia. They collected a total of 42 golds, 90 silvers and 96 bronzes.
Alora will now see action in the NCAA as the DLS-CSB taekwondo team, last season’s champions, will defend their crown against other high caliber squads in the NCAA as the taekwondo games will be staged here at DLS-CSB on February 24.
Gerodias glitters in dance sport
Dearlie Gerodias also brought home pride to the Benildean community after winning one bronze and two silver medals in the dance sport category at Wongchawalitkul University, Thailand.
“Overwhelmed ako kasi second time ko na ‘tong nanalo sa SEA Games at na-retain ‘yung title namin,’ said Gerodias.
The fourth year, taking up Computer Applications, was first known for her stellar performance at the 23rd SEA Games, wherein she won silver for the Latin American Dance Paso category.
After winning the said tournament, many other competitions came her way and she kept on winning that’s why pressure was on her side when the 24th SEA Games was coming near.
A cross training was done for her and her partner, John Erolle Melencio, to double their there flexibility and to build up their stamina in the upcoming competition.
“We did gymnastics and pilates tapos for our stamina, me and my partner did swimming and jogging tapos five dances everyday,” said Gerodias.
Gerodias performed in three dances—Paso Doble, Jive and Samba—where she got a medal for each performance. She won her first silver in Paso Doble, one of her favorite dances, her second silver in Jive, and a bronze in Samba.
The feat helped place Philippines as 6th overall in the dance sport field.
Thailand was one of the countries who started the dance sport, they are the one that introduced it and the Philippines started ten years after, which is why they were the greatest competition by the Philippines.
In every dance sport competition, the judges are given only one minute and thirty seconds to judge and rank the six dancing couples in the dance floor. Every couple should give their best within that time limit.
“Dancing from the heart. Iyon ‘yung wala ‘yung ibang kalaban namin. They were very technical sa bawat dance moves kaya nakikita mo na walang masyadong emotion,” remarked Gerodias.
Training is the key to every competition but still, pressure was overcoming her because the 2nd trimester finals in the College coincided with the competition proper.
“It was a lot of hard work kasi during that time, I was taking up major subjects tapos finals week pa and ang daming final project deadlines,” Gerodias recalled.
All her hard work and training paid off after collecting a total of three medals.
A competition like SEA Games is not just contending with other nations; it is a chance for the athletes to represent the best of what their country has to offer. That is why winning in this kind of competition is an overwhelming opportunity and honor for us Filipinos.
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