Tolentino dominates rowing at SEA Games

La Mesa Dam

The South East Asian (SEA) Games coming to Benjamin Tolentino Jr.’s home course in Manila’s Quezon City was enough to get him back into competitive rowing. The 23rd SEA Games have just finished up at Manila, in the Philippines, and Tolentino turned his comeback into a triple gold medal triumph.

Tolentino’s winning streak began with a first place finish in the lightweight men’s single. Then just an hour later he teamed up with partner Jo Rodriguez in the men’s pair to win again. The following day Tolentino added gold number three by rowing with Alivin Amposta in the lightweight double. All three of these rowers began their SEA Games quest by competing at the World Rowing Championships in Japan earlier this year.

Usually competing as an openweight rower, 183cm (6’0?) Tolentino had to work hard to lose the necessary weight to make the 72.5kg maximum. The success of Tolentino continues his family name in Filipino sport as his grandfather, Mariano Tolentino, was a famous basketball player.

Tolentino’s three golds gave the Philippines their only gold medals in rowing at the SEA Games and, along with one silver and three bronze, they won the overall points table.

Tolentino receives one of three medals

Thailand, who will be hosts of the next SEA Games in two years time, finished second overall also with three gold medals. The medal count was boosted by the two first place finishes by Phuttharaska Nikree. Nikree teamed up with long time partner, Bussayamas Phaengkathok to win the women’s lightweight double. Then Nikree went solo and scored her second gold in the lightweight single. Nikree is a full time rower and a veteran of two Olympic Games. She has been rowing internationally since 1998 and is one of the most successful rowers in South East Asia.

Most of the rowers competing are lightweight rowers and winner of the women’s single, Pere Karoba of Indonesia also raced in the lightweight single to finish second against Nikree. At 160cm (5’2?) Karoba, 24, has already competed at one Olympic Games finishing 16th overall in the women’s single.

Mr. Benjamin Ramos Jr., President of the Philippine Rowing Federation expressed delight with the performance of the Filipino rowers who will be left with a new boat house and 64 new boats as a legacy of the Games.

Attention now turns to the 2006 racing season and the Asian Games which will be held in Doha, Qatar.

Overall Points
1. Philippines
2. Thailand
3. Indonesia

Results
Women’s single
Indonesia (Pere Karoba) 8:17.26
Singapore (Elsie Lim) 8:22.15
Philippines (Nida Cordova) 8:27.31

Men’s lightweight double
Philippines (Benjamin Tolentino and Alivin Amposta) 6:50.16
Thailand 6:54.18
Indonesia 6:57.36

Men’s lightweight single
Philippines (Benjamin Tolentino) 7:27.92
Vietnam (Phan Thanh Hao) 7:35.19
Singapore (Roozaimy Bin Omar) 7:36.49

Men’s pair
Philippines (Benjamin Tolentino and Jo Rodriguez) 7:08.96
Indonesia 7:13.70
Vietnam 7:31.68

Women’s lightweight double
Thailand (Bussayamas Phaengkathok and Phuttharaska Nikree) 7:24.48
Vietnam 7:35.95
Indonesia 7:36.30

Men’s single
Thailand (Ruthtanaphol Theppibal) 7:17.86
Indonesia (Lasmin Lasmin) 7:18.14
Philippines (Jo Rodriguez) 7:28.87

Women’s lightweight single
Thailand (Phuttharaksa Nikree)
Indonesia (Pere Karoba) 8:22.37
Myanmar (Htwe Myint) 8:27.60

Women’s pair
Vietnam (Dang Thi Tham and Mai Thi Dung) 7:57.11
Indonesia 7:59.94
Philippines 8:13.33.

Men’s lightweight four
Indonesia 6:33.42
Philippines 6:39.30
Myanmar 6:46.58

Information thanks to Chris Perry, FISA’s development consultant for Asia.

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