Delgaco, Paraon scoop first rowing gold; Alex Eala advances to gold medal match

Riding the crest of the Team Philippines' biggest medal haul in a day on Monday, the Philippine rowing team sustained the surge with a gold courtesy of Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon in the women's rowing double sculls at the Jomtien Beach in Pattaya City, Chonburi on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

- By REYNALD I. MAGALLON

The Filipina duo started out strong and pulled away in the first 1000 meters and never looked back from there to pick up the country's 26th gold in the biennial meet.

Paraon and Delgaco finished the race in 6:16.966 to top the bets from Thailand and Vietnam by at least a four-second differential.

"Actually kagabi nakikita po namin na parang pahirapan pa yung bronze pero sabi ko sa sarili ko, grabe lang talaga pag si Lord na yung gumalaw talaga. Walang imposible talaga," said Delgaco. "Di po namin ineexpect tong gold namin na ito kasi po malalakas yung kalaban namin pero tiwala lang talaga sa isa't isa at alam naman po namin yung pinagdaanan namin na training."