Pinoys still best in dancesport
By Randy Caluag
CEBU CITY—The Philippines dominated the one-day dancesport competition of
the 23rd Southeast Asian Games,sweeping both the Standard and Latin American
events for a two-gold, two-silver medal haul last night at the packed ballroom
of the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.Showing too much flair and class, the Filipinos proved too dominating on the
floor and got the nods of the European adjudicators who are also here for the
International Dance Sport Federation Open at the same venue.Drawing the loudest cheers were the Cebuano couple, Michael Mendoza and Belinda
Agora as they moved with dramatic emphasis in their movements in the jive, pasa
doble, rumba, cha-cha and samba.Seven of 12 couples made it the finals in each of the two categories.“I’m so overwhelmed. They (athletes) really deserved it,” said Dancesport Council
of the Philippines president Becky Garcia.“The people saw how our athletes stood out on the floor. The European judgessaw it
that way and nobody could really contest that we’re the best in Southeast Asia.”