RP paddlers make it to canoe finals round

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT--Filipino paddlers have placed themselves in the lead in the women's K1 and men's K2 divisions in the canoe/kayak competitions of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine bets April Mae Penalosa and the tandem of Jonathan Villalino and Jonard Saren are now ready to gun for the gold in their respective divisions Sunday, hoping to win more medals for the host country.

Penalosa kept Singapore's Lim Ling Min in sight, then outdistanced her in the 100 meters to win the race with a clock-in of 2:09.51. Lim clocked in at 2:11.18.

Penalosa will be heading on to go against Vietnam's Doan Thi Cach, Myanmar's Aye Mi Khaing and Indonesia's Sarce Aronggear.

Villalino and Saren made it to the finals in the K2 class with a lead time of 1:39.09, winning by a hair against Myanmar's Phone Myint Tayzar and Aung Kyaw Moe, who checked in 1:39.66,

Thailand's Piyaphan Paophat and Anusom Sommit took the honors finishing at 1:38.31.

It was the first time the Filipinos made it to the finals in the K2 class of the 11-nation biennial meet.

Anthony Deleon, INQ7.net contributor