LOS BAÑOS --- The Philippines bounced back from its heartbreaking loss to Singapore with a 10-2 rout of Thailand yesterday to keep its gold medal hope alive in water polo action in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

Roy Canete and Monsuito Pelenio combined for seven goals, while goalie Allan Payawal stonewalled the Thai offense to power the Filipinos to their second win in three games.

"This is a huge victory for us. It boosted the morale of the team following our loss to Singapore yesterday. Let's just hope that our team continues to play well," said Philippine amateur swimming Association president Mark Joseph in a press release.

Sizing up each other, both teams went scoreless after the first quarter. Pelenio then scored with only a minute gone in the second canto to ignite a 4-0 run, and the Philippines never looked back.

In other matches, defending champion Singapore romped to its third straight victory with a 16-7 thumping of Indonesia, while Malaysia outlasted Vietnam, 8-7.

It was the Malaysians' second straight win following an opening day loss to Singapore. Vietnam failed to sustain the momentum it got from its 13-12 squeaker over Indonesia the other day, and dropped its slate to 1-2.

FINA water polo delegate Khosromi Amiv said with a little more exposure the Filipinos could give Singapore a run for the gold medal.

"They could have had the gold for sure against Singapore," he said referring to the 6-7 defeat of the Filipinos against the Singaporeans.

The win put the hosts back in contention notwithstanding their 6-7 defeat at the hands of the Singaporeans who only need to win their final two assignments against the Thais Thursday and the Vietnamese Friday to complete a sweep and retain the title they won in Vietnam two years ago.*

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