HANGZHOU, China — Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino felt that JR Francisco got the raw end of the judging as the Filipino skateboarder missed the podium Monday in the men’s park event of the 19th Asian Games here.
Francisco ended up fourth with an 83.58 at the QT Roller Sports Centre here after a solid second run. China’s Ye Chen bagged the gold with an 84.41 on his second run while Japan’s Yuro Nagahara and Kensuke Sasaoka took the silver and bronze with 84.00 and 83.66.
Tolentino felt that Francisco had a better run than the Japanese who went on to snare the bronze.
“We were robbed of the bronze,” said the POC chief who was on hand to witness the skateboarding competition where nine-year-old Mazel Paris Alegado made heads turn despite finishing seventh in the girls’ side.
Tolentino said Francisco was running second behind the eventual gold medalist after his second run and was surprised that the two Japanese entries came next after the Filipino.
Sasaoka then had an 83.66 to dislodge Francisco at second before Nagahara, whom the POC chief thought was the better skateboarder, unleashed an 84.00 after a 76.01 on his second run.
In the wink of an eye, the Filipino skateboarder dropped from second to fourth.
“Hindi na bale yung nag-silver dahil mas magaling talaga. Pero yung nag-bronze from Japan, hindi dapat niya na dislodge si Francisco from second by a mere .8 on the scorecards,” said Tolentino.
“Na-box out tayo,” he added.
