NAGOYA  — Ariel Joseph Alegarbes struck like lightning to capture the men’s 100-meter backstroke S14 gold medal, giving the Philippines its second title at the 5th Asian Para Games at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old native of Victorias City, Negros Occidental entered the final with the second-fastest qualifying time but delivered when it mattered most, touching the wall in 1 minute, 1.56 seconds to claim the gold.

Alegarbes, who has been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, narrowly edged South Korea’s Kang Sungho, who settled for silver in 1:01.61.

Thailand’s Natirat Meeprom, who posted the fastest qualifying time in the morning heats, took the bronze in 1:02.08.

Alegarbes’ triumph came a day after Ernie Gawilan ruled the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7, giving the Philippines its second gold of the Games. The country’s medal haul also includes a bronze from Raemond Adefuin in the 100-meter breaststroke SB6.

Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said the victories of Alegarbes and Gawilan could inspire their teammates to pursue podium finishes in their respective events.

“Well, again, it inspires and motivates the others to do the same, di ba?” Barredo said, describing the gold medalists as showing their teammates the “pathway to gold.”

“And I’m sure others, maybe in track and field tomorrow and the other events that we still have, will see that they have been successful and they will try for it themselves. They will follow that pathway to gold,” he added.

Philippine chef de mission Francis Diaz also lauded Alegarbes’ achievement, saying the victory highlighted the potential of the country’s para-swimming program.

“Pugay, Arjay Alegarbes, para sa ikalawang ginto ng Pilipinas sa 5th Asian Para Games. We are very proud of your achievement,” Diaz said.

The latest victory kept the Philippines in 14th place in the overall medal standings.

Meanwhile, Filipino archers Marzel Burgos, Augustina Bantiloc and Jannah Kate Ballesta bowed out of their respective individual events at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square.

Burgos suffered a 147-142 defeat to China’s Ai Xinliang in the men’s compound elimination round, while Bantiloc lost to another Chinese archer, Zhao Jing, 147-135, in the women’s compound event.

Ballesta also fell short against South Korea’s Kim Okgeum, losing a closely contested match, 6-5.

Burgos and Bantiloc later teamed up in the mixed compound event but endured another heartbreaking defeat, falling 148-147 to Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yun Hsien and Yang Jyun Kai.

In track cycling at the Izu Velodrome, Nikko Peralta and Patrick Lee failed to advance in the 4,000-meter individual pursuit in their respective classifications.

Peralta clocked 5:14.411 in the C4 class, while Lee recorded 5:09.605 in C5. Neither time was sufficient to secure a place in the next round.

Meanwhile, Allain Ganapin, one of the Philippines’ two flag bearers and its lone entry in taekwondo, is set to face Iran’s Mahdi Pourrahnamaahmad in the men’s K44 under-80-kilogram division at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium.

The 28-year-old Marikina native needs two victories to assure himself of at least a medal.