NEW CLARK CITY - Dancesport triggered a rush of gold for Team Philippines to give a sparkle to the country's campaign in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Sean Micha Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla joined Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda in bringing home three gold medals each in a dominant show of force that saw the host garner a total of 10 in the one-day event at the Royce Hotel.
Aranar and Nualla ruled the standard tango, viennese waltz, and the five dance to jumpstart the Filipinos' campaign - a hat-trick which Aunzo and Caneda later duplicated by winning the latin rumba, sumba, and chacha.
"We didn't expect the result," said Aunzo. 'It's a magical moment for us."
The pair of Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen also had their moment after bagging two golds in the standard foxtrot and waltz.
Rounding up the two more golds for the Filipinos were the ones won by Michael Angelo Marquez anf Stephanie Sabalo in the latin five dance and pasadoble.
"This is the product of passion, inspiration, and focus," said Dancesport Congress of the Philippines (DSCP) president Becky Garcia.
Only three out of the 13 golds at stake in the event got away from the grip of the Filipinos.
Vietnam accounted for two golds in the standard quickstep and latin jive, while Malaysia won the other gold in girls' breakdance, which is making its debut in the SEA Games.
Marquez and Sabalo settled for the silver in the latin jive, while Aranar and Nualla finished runner-up in the standard quickstep.
Debbie Mahinay also settled for a runner-up honor in the girls breakdancing.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
