Two standouts from southern Negros Occidental provided the Philippine contingent a boost yesterday by seizing silver medals on Day One of the athletics competition of the 24 th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand .

Throwing specialist Rosie Villarito of Isio, Cauayan and middle-distance runner Julius Sermona of Libacao, Himamaylan duplicated their silver-medal finishes in the women's javelin and men's 5000m, respectively two years ago when the Games were held in Manila .

Another Negrense, Joebert Delicano of Victorias City captured the bronze in triple jump, behind two bets from Thailand .

Villarito, 27, flung the spear to 50.49-meters to settle for second place behind Thailand 's Buoban Panang, who established a new SEA Games record of 55.97m yesterday.

An alumnus of Isio Elementary School and Isio Private Academy , Villarito achieved her best effort in her second throw at the His Majesty the King's 80 th Anniversary Stadium. Another Thai bet, Arunya Busrising took the bronze with a 39.74m heave.

Villarito took up Bachelor of Science in Education, major in Physical Education at Far Eastern University and saw action in many Palarong Pambansa editions.

Sermona, 29, who played second fiddle to the illustrious Eduardo Buenavista in this event early in his career, clocked 14 minutes, 24.72 seconds.

Sermona, who studied at La Carlota City College, was more than six minutes behind gold medalist Boonthung Srisung of Thailand , who checked in at 14:18.05.

Delicano, 27, leapt to a distance of 16.07m for the bronze with Theerayut Philakong winning the gold in record-breaking fashion with a 16.44m effort.*CPT

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