by Julia Marie Mangmang

Despite being overtaken by both Indonesia and Singapore in the overall medal tally, the Philippines still bagged a number of medals, on the seventh official day of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

Yesterday, the Women’s Sibol Wild Rift made history by winning the championship in the League of Legends: Wild Rift, sweeping all six of their matches against Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam, and beating Singapore in the final round, 3-0. 

Meanwhile, Baby Canabal, Kirstie Alora, and Dave Cea of taekwondo and Jiah Pingot, Minalyn Foy-os, and Noemi Tener of wrestling all grabbed silver medals. 

Richard Gonzales and John Misal also won silver in the table tennis men’s doubles division, while the women’s swimming team placed second in the 4×100 medley relay. 

To cap off yesterday’s bid, Grace Loberanes of wrestling, Jenelyn Olsim of vovinam, and the athletics team all won bronze medals. 

Today, the men’s bowling team composed of Ian Dychangco, Ivan Malig, Patrick Nuqui, Merwin Tan’s combined 5,275 pinfalls outlasted Malaysia’s 5,162 to earn gold in the men’s team of four division in bowling.  

Rena Furukawa of judo also won the top spot in the women’s minus-57kg category.

On the other hand, Christine Hallasgo, who competed in the women’s marathon, duo Paulo Belarmina and Darwin Laylo in the men’s team rapid in chess, and pair Paul Dela Cruz and Jennifer Chan of archery’s mixed team compound all claimed silver.

Keisei Nakano and John Viron Ferrer of the judo team each bagged silver medals, too. 

Today’s bronze medalists are as follows:  Hermie Macaranas and Ojay Fuentes in men’s canoe double 1000m, duo Janelle Frayna and Antoinnette San Diego in the women’s team rapid category of chess, the archery team composed of Paul Dela Cruz, Florente Matan and Johann Olaño in the men’s team compound, Rosegie Ramos of weightlifting, Breanna Beladan in the women’s rhythmic individual all around, Israel Cesar Cantos and Samuel Morrison of taekwondo, and karate’s Ivan Agustin, trio Nicole Dantes, Rebecca Torres, and Sarah Pangilinan, Remon Villanueva, and ​​Megumi Kurayoshi. 

With the games’ closing ceremony fast approaching, the last few days will feature the bronze medal matches of both the women’s and men’s volleyball teams, the final games of the women’s football squad, and more esports matchups.