TOKYO—Rower Cris Nievarez was at the Sea Forest Waterway inspired more than ever as he warmed up for Sunday's quarterfinals of the men's single sculls of rowing in the Tokyo Olympics.

"Like in the heats, Cris is targeting a top three finish to progress to the next round," Philippines Rowing Association treasurer Magnum Membrere told BusinessMirror. "He's calm and focused on his target."

Nievarez clocked seven minutes and 22.97 seconds to finish third in Heat 5 which dominated Rio 2016 silver medalist Damir Martin (7:09.17) of Croatia and three-time indoor world champion Alexander Vyazovkin (7:14.95) of Russia dominated.

He will face stiff opposition in the A-B semifinals from rowers from Germany, Lithuania, Brazil, New Zealand and Iraq.

German Oliver Zeidler and Lithuanian Mindaugas Griskonis are Nievares's tough oppionents in the group. Zeidler is a 6-foot-8 rower who has a European Championship gold and a World Championship title under his credit while the 6-foot-2 Griskonis is a three-time European champ with two bronzes won in the world joust.

Zeidler topped his heat while Griskonis was second in his own heat Saturday.

The realistic goal for Nievarez is to beat Brazilian Luca Verthein, Kiwi Jordan Perry and Iraqi Mohammad Al Khafaji to make the A-B semifinals.

Among all these rowers, only the Iraqi progressed to the quarters from the Repechage.

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