PH adds five golds to haul as swimming, athletics, esports deliver in ASEAN Para Games 2023 Day 4

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Philippines added five more gold medals to its collection on Day 4 of the 2023 ASEAN Para Games (APG) on Monday, June 5.

Swimming and athletics captured two golds each, while esports provided the fifth gold for the nationals.

Para swimmer Gary Bejino and Cendy Asusano became the latest Philippine double gold medalists, following in the footsteps of Darry Bernando. Additionally, Ariel Joseph Alegarbes and Evaristo Carbonel wore their first gold medals.

Sibol showcased the Philippines' dominance in the Southeast Asian region in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), even in the Para Games.

As of writing, the Philippines currently sits in fifth place on the medal tally with 12 golds, 16 silvers, and 15 bronzes.

Defending back-to-back APG champion Indonesia maintained the pole position with 43 golds, 36 silvers, and 27 bronzes, while Surakarta 2022's third place Vietnam occupied the second spot, collecting 26 golds, 21 silvers, and 32 bronzes.

Last year's runner-up Thailand placed third after the fourth day of competitions with 23 golds, 29 silvers, and 19 bronzes, followed by Malaysia in the fourth spot with 21 golds, 13 silvers, and eight bronzes.

The sixth to 11th place nations are as follow: Myanmar (5 golds, 7 silvers, 4 bronzes), Singapore (4 golds, 7 silvers, 5 bronzes), Cambodia (2 golds, 6 silvers, 6 bronzes), Timor Leste (1 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronzes), Laos (0 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronzes), and Brunei Darussalam (0 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze).

In his debut in the men's 200-meter freestyle S6, Gary Bejino emerged as the champion in a record-breaking fashion.

Bejino clocked 2:38.55 to secure the gold medal, surpassing the APG record of 2:45.99 set by Myanmar's Aung Myint Myat, who previously owned the 400m freestyle S6 record he shattered on Sunday.

Thailand's Channi Wongnonthapum settled for silver with a time of 2:53.10, while Vietnam's Thanh Hai Do took the bronze with 2:54.23.

"It's my first time competing in the 200m freestyle event, and I'm thrilled to have won the gold," said the 27-year-old native from Tabaco, Albay, who will still compete in four events – three individual and one relay (4x100 medley).

With this victory, Bejino now has two gold medals to his name, joining chess National Master Bernardo, who secured a pair of gold medals in the men's individual rapid VI-B2/B3 and the team rapid VI-B2/B3 events alongside Menandro Redor and Israel Peligro.

The para-swimming team made it a five-gold contribution when Ariel Joseph Alegarbes triumphed in the men's 50m butterfly S14.

Alegarbes, who had won the silver medal in the men's 100m breaststroke SB14 on Sunday, claimed the top prize by clocking 26.69 seconds. He outpaced Malaysia's Bryan Lau Sze Kai (27.06) and Muhammad Imaan Aiman (27.53) to secure the gold.

Angel Otom followed her gold medal in the women's 50m backstroke S5 with a silver medal finish in the 200m freestyle S5.

Team Philippines showcased its dominance in the javelin throw competition, claiming gold in both the men's and women's divisions with Evaristo Carbonel and Cendy Asusano leading the way.

Carbonel recorded a 23.98m throw to secure the javelin throw F11 gold, defeating four other Cambodian competitors.

Asusano, on the other hand, joined Bejino and Bernardo as a double gold medalist for the Philippines. She won gold in the women's javelin throw F54 event with a 13.74m tally, outperforming fellow Filipina Marites Burce, who earned the silver with 11.96m. Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy completed the podium with a bronze medal, recording a throw of 11.56m.

On Sunday, Asusano secured the gold in the women's shot put F54.

She can win another gold by capturing the discus throw title on Wednesday, June 7.

In contrast, King James Reyes (men's 1500m T46), Jolan Camacho (men's long jump T11-12), and Jesebel Tordeciall (women's javelin throw F55) all clinched silver medals.

The Sibol men's MLBB team completed a flawless title run in Phnom Penh 2023, sweeping Malaysia in their best-of-five gold medal match, 3-0.

Jasper Ambat's Diggie led the way in Game One, securing an 11-minute and 25-second victory for the Philippines with a perfect kill-death-assist (KDA) performance of 2/0/9.

Game Two witnessed Joshua Detera's masterful use of Yve, extending the nationals' lead to 2-0.

The relentless Filipino pro gamers sealed the championship triumph within 14 minutes in the third and final game.

Mentored by coach Francis "Duckeyyy" Glindro, Ambat, Detera, Marvin Ignacio, Ashly Paghubasan, and Chester Gonzales went undefeated throughout the tournament.

Sibol concluded the group stage with an unblemished 3-0 win-loss record, defeating Malaysia, Thailand, and host Cambodia. The nationals thumped Thailand, 2-0, in the semifinals to continue their winning streak.

Sibol's gold medal is excluded from the medal tally, given that MLBB is a demonstration sport at this biennial meet.