32nd SEA Games: PH takes six gold as Filipino jins deliver in Day 8

Taekwondo led the six-gold rush of the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games on Saturday, May 13.

Filipino jins Kurt Barbosa, Samuel Morrison, Arven Alcantara, and Kirstie Elaine Alora took gold in different weight classes, while boxer Ian Clark Bautista and the men's tennis pair of Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales added their own.

The gold rush on Day 8 helped the Philippines inch closer to fifth-running Singapore in the medal tally, as the former now had 37 gold on top of 64 silver and 77 bronze, while the latter collected 41 gold, 33 silver, and 43 bronze.

Barbosa began the gold rush for the Philippine taekwondo team as Alora finished it on a high note.

Barbosa ruled the men's 54-kilogram category for the third straight time since Manila 2019 after defeating his long-time idol Ramnarong Sawekwiharee of Thailand.

Following Barbosa's triumph, Alcantara topped the 68kg class as he beat another Thai in Chaichon Cho.

In his last SEA Games stint, Morrison ensured that it was memorable as he subdued Indonesian Nicholas Armanto in the men's 87kg finals.

The 33-year-old Fil-Am jin announced he will retire after the Asian Games in September to focus on his family and business.

He ended his storied SEA Games career with four gold medals.

The Philippine taekwondo team's triumphant showing didn't end there as even later in the night, Alora trounced Vietnam's Thi Huong Nguyen in their women's -73kg finals showdown for another gold.

A day before this victorious Saturday for Filipino jins, the Philippines already hauled two gold medals courtesy of Patrick King Perez (men's recognized poomsae individual) and the trio of Jocel Lyn Ninobla, Aidaine Krishia Laxa and Maria Nicole Labayne (women's recognized poomsae team).

Tactical and clinical, Bautista scored a unanimous decision victory over Indonesia's Asri Udin to prevail in their men's featherweight clash as three other Filipino pugilists settled for silver.

Defending two-time champion Rogen Ladon surrendered his men's flyweight title to Thanarat Saengphet of Thailand, as Riza Pasuit bowed to Thin Linh Ha of Vietnam in their women's welterweight title fight.

Irish Magno was yet to end her losing streak against Thailand's Jutamas Jitpong, settling for silver in the women's 54kg finale.

Jitpong beat Magno thrice in a row now as the Thai pug eliminated her in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 second round before topping the same weight division last year in the Hanoi SEA Games 2021 at the Filipina's expense.

On Sunday, May 14, five Filipino boxers will try their luck to bring home the gold.

Alcantara and Gonzales refused to surrender the men's doubles tennis crown for the past three SEA Games editions as the pair of Filipino netters downed the Indonesian tandem of Nathan Barki and Christopher Rungkat via a come-from-behind 2-6, 7-5, 10-5 win.

In the Manila 2019 Games, Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon outlasted Gonzales and Treat Huey in the all-Filipino finals before the latter pair exacted revenge three years after in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This time, an all-Filipino championship showdown vanished in the quarterfinals as Eric Olivarez and Mico Eala lost to Rungkat and Barki, 7-5, 2-6, 5-10.

Getting a first round bye, Alcantara and Gonzales reached the finals after prevailing over Indonesia's David and Ignatius Susanto in the quarterfinal round and Vietnam's Dac Tien and Van Phuong Nguyen in the semifinals.

No movements occurred in the medal tally after Day 8 as Vietnam still occupied the top spot and the rest maintained their respective positions.

Vietnam built a nine-gold advantage against current second place Thailand. The Vietnamese side continued to reign with 87 gold, 79 silver, and 87 bronze, while the Thai team trailed with 78 gold, 52 silver, and 76 bronze.

Host Cambodia remained in third place with 59 gold, 53 silver, and 81 bronze, followed by Indonesia with 56 gold, 53 silver, and 72 bronze in the fourth spot.

Singapore and the Philippines battle for fifth place as SEA Games 2023 nears end. The Singaporeans (41-33-43) and the Filipinos (37-64-77) are in fifth and sixth place, respectively.