MANILA - A "Pilipinas Got Talent" finalist ended up in a wheelchair after his bike stunt went wrong on Saturday, shocking the finals night audience.
Bornok Mangosong from the UA Mindanao motocross riders crashed his bike after he failed to launch into a back flip from a high ramp.
The judges, actress Angel Locsin, former ABS-CBN president Freddie M. Garcia, action star Robin Padilla, and comedian Vice Ganda heaped praise on the group from conflict-torn Kidapawan City.
"Alam ko naman ang ipinaglalaban ninyo eh," Vice Ganda told the group. "Hindi niyo lang ginagawa iyan para makapagmayabang lang. Ginagawa niyo yan dahil mayroon kayong pangarap at gustong patunayan. May magandang dahilan ang Diyos kung bakit nangyari sa inyo 'yan."
Padilla, who has done his fair share of stunts for his films, said Mangosong did not "fail" in his stunt.
"Hindi sila pumalpak. Sapagkat ipinakita po nila sa ating lahat kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng stunts. Ang stunts po talaga kasama ang mga ganoong pangyayari, at masasabi ko po nagawa nila ng tama sapagkat sa oras na nandodoon na iyong aksidente, pinakita mo na mayroon kang presence of mind," Padilla claimed.
"Sapagkat kung binitawan mo iyong motor prematurely, malamang wala ka na ngayon. Pero kitang kita natin sa video, buong buo iyong isip, nasa timing ang bato mo ng motor pati ang landing mo, ang galing mo, pare!" he added.
Locsin gave the group a perfect score, while Garcia expressed disappointment over Mangosong's accident.
"It's totally exciting. It's just unfortunate that you failed to do what you were supposed to do," Garcia said.
UA Mindanao is one of 12 finalists competing for P2 million grand prize. The group is up against Next Option, Crossover Family, Sto. Tomas Bulilit Generation, Mastermind, and The Amazing Pyra.
Power Duo, Ody Sto. Domingo, The Chosen Ones, Dino Splendid Acrobats, Kurt Philip Espiritu, and Power Impact Dancers are also part of the grand finalis.
The act with the highest combined scores from the judges (50%) and public votes (50%) will be proclaimed as the grand champion of the fifth season of "Pilipinas Got Talent" on Sunday.
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