PH takes seven golds in 32nd SEA Games' Day 11
2023-May-17 11:48
2024-Jul-16 12:09
KING AGAIN. Gilas Pilipinas reclaimed the men's basketball title in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games to cap the Philippines' campaign in the biennial meet. PHOTO: TEAM PHILIPPINES
The Philippines took seven gold medals on Day 11 of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games to clinch the fifth spot on Tuesday, May 16, in Cambodia.
Gilas Pilipinas redeemed their men's basketball throne to cap the nationals' campaign on a high note following the gold medal triumphs in arnis, kickboxing, and wrestling.
With the triumphant last-day performances, the nationals surpassed the 52-gold haul of the country in Hanoi 2021 as they amassed 58 golds this edition. Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the 840-strong delegation also bagged 86 silvers and 116 bronzes.
Unfortunately, they fell a notch lower in the final medal tally, finishing fifth after taking the fourth spot last year.
Vietnam became a back-to-back overall champion for the first time in the nation's history, garnering 136 golds, 105 silvers, and 114 bronzes for 355 medals.
The Vietnamese emerged as the top-performing SEA country in the multi-nation sporting meet last year at home when it hosted the games for the second time.
Thailand came second with 108 golds, 95 silvers, and 108 bronzes, while Indonesia finished fourth with 85 golds, 81 silvers, and 109 bronzes.
In their first SEA Games hosting duty, Cambodia settled for fourth place with 81 golds, 74 silvers, and 126 bronzes.
The 2023 biennial meet will formally close on Wednesday, May 17, with Cambodia passing the baton to Thailand – set to host the SEA Games in 2025.
PH's last day gold rush
The Philippines took seven golds on the last day of competitions, courtesy of the following:
The Philippines took seven golds on the last day of competitions, courtesy of the following:
Gilas outlasts Cambodia for SEA Games title
Revenge was sweet for Gilas Pilipinas after depriving the hosts of their first men's basketball gold in the SEA Games.
Revenge was sweet for Gilas Pilipinas after depriving the hosts of their first men's basketball gold in the SEA Games.
The Philippines defeated Cambodia, 80-69, in front of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the home crowd at Morodok Techo National Stadium, avenging their 79-68 defeat during the group play.
Most importantly, Chot Reyes and the team restored order upon reclaiming the throne. After suffering a shocking upset, Gilas relinquished the crown to last year's champion, Indonesia.
Justin Brownlee led the way with 23 points, Chris Newsome contributed 16, and Marcio Lassiter had 10 for Gilas, capturing the Philippines' first basketball gold in four events.
In the women's 5x5 category, Gilas secured the silver medal after finishing second in the single-round robin, while both the men's and women's 3x3 teams fell short in their respective gold medal games.
PH nabs two more arnis titles
Filipino arnisadors Crismanuel Delfin and Trixie Mary Lofranco emerged victorious in the men's and women's individual anyo non-traditional open weapon categories to give the country its 53rd and 54th gold medals.
Filipino arnisadors Crismanuel Delfin and Trixie Mary Lofranco emerged victorious in the men's and women's individual anyo non-traditional open weapon categories to give the country its 53rd and 54th gold medals.
In the men's division, Delfin scored 29.500, surpassing Cambodia's Run Salith (29.200) and Myanmar's Htet Wai Hlaing (29.200) to claim the gold medal.
Meanwhile, Lofranco dominated the women's competition, scoring 29.500 to defeat Cambodia's Lath Sophandaroth (29.100) and Myanmar's Khin Khin Khant (28.800) to capture the gold.
With Delfin and Lofranco's victories, the Philippine arnis national team's gold medal count increased to six.
Dexler Bolambao, Maria Ella Alcoseba, Charlotte Ann Tolentino, and Jedah Mae Soriano had previously secured gold in their respective events earlier this week.
Kickboxing wins couple of gold for PH
Filipina kickboxers Gretel De Paz and Claudine Veloso secured the second and third gold medals for the national kickboxing squad, adding to Jean Claude Saclag's victory in the men's low kick -63.5-kilogram division on Monday.
Gretel claimed the women's low kick -56kg title after defeating Indonesia's Ndapataka Susanti, 3-0, redeeming herself from a silver medal finish in the Hanoi 2021 Games.
In the women's K1 -52kg category, Veloso captured the final gold medal for the Philippines in kickboxing. She dominated Vietnam's Lin Bui Hai throughout the bout, securing a 3-0 victory.
Wrestling gifts PH with pair of gold medals
Wrestlers Alvin Lobreguito and Ronil Tubog contributed two more gold medals to the Philippines' tally as they triumphed in their respective weight classes.
Lobreguito emerged victorious over Vietnam's Phu Khac Huy in the men's freestyle 57kg gold medal match, defeating him 3-1. Notably, this SEA Games edition saw Lobreguito avenging his previous loss to Huy in Hanoi 2021, where he settled for silver.
Furthermore, this win marked an end to his consecutive runner-up finishes, as Lobreguito placed second in Manila 2019 before his Vietnam stint.
In the men's freestyle 61kg final, Tubog clinched the gold by overcoming Indonesia's Zainal Abidin with a score of 3-1.
The Philippine wrestling team accumulated a total of four gold medals, including the earlier successes of Jason Balabal (men's Greco-Roman 87kg) and Maria Cristina Vergara (women's freestyle 65kg).