Pinoy figure skaters in position for possible podium finish

Filipino figure skaters put themselves in good position for possible medals at the Southeast Asian Games after Friday's short program.

2017 bronze medalist Alisson Perticheto led the Philippine team with a perfect skate, scoring 53.65 points to rule the senior ladies.

"I didn’t think about the ranks but I did have a lot of pressure to make the Philippines proud," she said after besting her old rival, 2017 silver medalist Chloe Ing of Singapore.

Perticheto also outscored Ing in the short program back in 2017, but she dropped to fourth place in the free skate. She will look to hold on to her slim lead on Sunday.

"To control my emotion is going to be the hardest part," Perticheto said. "To keep calm and to focus on my breathing and to feel confident to let my body know because I know what I'm doing."

Christopher Caluza and Edrian Celestino also impressed among the senior men, finishing second and third behind 2017 gold medalist and Olympian Julian Yee of Malaysia.

A surprise podium could be possible after the free skate, as the top four skaters are separated by less than a point from each other.

2017 fourth placer Micah Kai Lynette of Thailand, who also ranked fourth in the short program, will look to snatch a medal on his second try.  

Cirinia Gillett, who fell to ninth place among the ladies after failing to land her jumps, remained positive as she skated with a hurting leg. She only had a technical score of 7.07 for a total score of 20.93 points.

"It's my first international competition in singles," Gillett said. "I'm battling an injury right now so I can only ask for so much for myself but I'm happy."

The free skate will begin at 4:15 pm on Sunday at SM Megamall Skating Rink. —MGP, GMA News