Filipinos have most productive day yet, but Team PH still sixth overall
CHONBURI—The gold rush started early for Team Philippines on the eighth day of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, and the delegation was hoping to carry that well into the night.
With eight gold medals for the day as of this writing, triathlon set the tone with the sweep of the relay events in Rayong, and the Filipinos were looking to log in more and make the most of what has been their most productive day.
Muay Thai followed suit with two, including one from One Championship fighter Islay Bomogao in Bangkok, while two more golds were produced here in sailing and modern pentathlon.
Kira Ellis, Kim Mangrobang and Raven Alcoseba led the way for the Philippines with their triumph in the women’s team relay at one hour, 10 minutes and 14 seconds.
They beat Indonesia by 34 seconds, while Singapore took bronze after being a distant third at 1:12:00, giving Mangrobang her seventh career SEA Games gold.
Aki Lorbes, Matthew Hermosa and Fer Casares emerged victorious in the men’s side in 1:04:15 as the trio edged out Singapore by 10 seconds, and Indonesia by 30.
Ellis, Casares and Alcoseba would add a second gold for themselves as part of the mixed team with Andrew Kim Remolino at 1:30:31. They barely beat Indonesia by four seconds.
Back in Bangkok, Sibol, the national esports team, continued its dominance in the popular online game of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, with the men’s side taking down Malaysia.
“It’s been a great day so far. One of the best days we had,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino after attending Sibol’s triumph.
37-53-118
Sibol’s women’s squad and mixed team could follow suit, with the women’s football team potentially wrapping things up in a big way if it could put an end to Vietnam’s streak of four consecutive golds, also here.
As of 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Team Philippines already amassed 37 gold, 53 silver and 118 bronze medals, but is still running sixth behind Malaysia’s 40-43-103 and Singapore’s 45-42-61.
Host Thailand is way ahead in the count with 181 gold, 116 silver and 78 bronze medals, with Indonesia a distant second at 72-82-78 and Vietnam 64-68-91.
With three days left before the curtains go down on the Games, Tolentino had already set aside the initial goal of getting at least 60 golds, two more than what Team Philippines produced two years ago in Cambodia.
But the POC chief gave a rough estimate of the least number of golds the Philippines can attain.
“The next three days will be the peak,” he said. “I could see at least 15 golds.”
