Filipino skateboarder Jericho Francisco, Jr. Courtesy: POC Media
BANGKOK — Jericho Francisco Jr. added another gold medal for the Philippines on Saturday, after ruling the extreme skateboard men's park final in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Francisco bounced back after falling in his first run to top the event held at the Sports Authority of Thailand Extreme Sports Park in Bangkok.
"The first run I fell because I was not thinking about the tricks. Usually I would think about the tricks before I go up. I was so focused on the crowd and everything. In the next run I closed my eyes and visualized it... In the third run I went with all guns blazing and it well," he told Philippine Olympic Committee Media in an interview after the event.
He took home the gold with 90.68 points, while his closest competitor was Thailand's Konwit Ketkaeo who had 82.43 points.
Another hometown bet Brian Van Upapong clinched bronze with 74.25 points.
"I can't believe it to be honest with you. I can't believe it to be here with the gold medal and my students on here with the gold medal also and the silver also," the skater said.
Francisco was referring to women's park gold medalist Mazel Paris Alegado and silver medalist Elizabeth Amador, who are both 11-year-olds.
"Yes [it makes the victory sweeter]. I'm getting goosebumps thinking about it," he said.
The two-time SEA Games gold medalist believes the achievement of Philippine skaters in the regional showcase will inspire more Filipinos to get into skateboarding.
"It just shows that us Filipinos can do it and we can be on top. No matter if we have limited resources or not, we can do it. And we can compete with the best," Francisco said.
READ: 11-year-old Pinay skater strikes gold in SEA Games women’s park event
BLESSING IN DISGUISE?
Prior to Francisco being announced the winner, the competition was temporarily halted when part of the floor gave way after the run of one of the Thai skaters.
Francisco saw the silver lining of the incident late into the men's park event.
"Actually it was kind of a blessing. I got more tries in the big trick that I wanted to do," he shared.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, who was present during the competition, shared his thoughts on the issue with the floor.
"Kinabahan kami doopn kasi twice na nangyayari yun. Well parehas lang nakakapahinga. Pero yung momentum yun yung tinitingnan natin," he shared.
Earlier, 11-year-olds Alegado and Amador bagged gold and silver in the women's park finals, completing a one-two finish for the country in the extreme skateboard event.
The Philippine skaters capped off the day by adding two gold and one silver to the country's medal tally.