NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac – Three-time Olympian Marestella Torres-Sunang save the day for the 72-man Philippine contingent by snaring the gold in long jump on the first day of the 30th Southeast Asian Games Test Event at the spanking New Clark City Athletics Stadium here Saturday, 26 October 2019.

It could have been a very bright day for powerhouse Thailand over three different field events had not Torres-Sunang pulled the rug from under the opposition on her favorite event.

Torres-Sunang is set to retire from active athletic duty after the 30^th SEAG.

“Medyo nakakabawi na sa kumpiyansa dahil may kalabanan mula sa ibang bansa,” said Torres-Sunang, who settled for the bronze in the previous 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games where Bui Thi Thu Thao of Vietnam won the gold at 6.68m followed by Maria Natalia Londa of  Indonesia (6.47m).

Torres-Sunang crushed Thai Chuaimaroneng Parinya who posted 6.17 meters on her fifth jump  while Vietnam’s Vu Thi Ngoc Ha registered 6.02 meters.

“Iba na kasi ang laro ko dahil medyo nag-aadjust na ako kasi hindi na makuha sa bilis sa pagtakbo so gumagawa na lamang ako ng markings kung saan ako dapat na magstart ng pagtalon or iyung pag-float ko,” said Torres-Sunang who promised to give her all on her last and final performance for the country in the 30^th SEAG set November 30 to December 11, 2019.

“Last tournament ko na ito dahil fine-tuning na kami ng coach ko,” Torres-Sunang added.

A SEA Games long jump record holder, Torres-Sunang chalked up an impressive 6.20 meters jump on her fifth try that all but stymied the challenge posed by her rivals from Thailand and Vietnam.

The gold medal victory of Sunang was all the Philippine contingent needed in spoiling Thailand’s early domination with golds in Discus Throw (women) and High Jump (women).

Insaeng Subenrat threw the discus to 56.99 meters on her last and sixth try even as Filipinas Daniella Daynata and Aira Teodosio finished second and third, respectively.

Daynata threw 38.53 meters on her second try while Teodosio posted 37.49 meters.

Wanida Boonwan of Thailand prevailed in high jump at 1.79m followed by Viet Pham Thi Diem (1.77m) and Yap Sean Lee of Malaysia (1.71m).

Meanwhile, other events in athletics were canceled until after technical gadgets becomes functional.  (LO/IAMIGO/CNS)