By Maxine Agno

The Philippines concluded its 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign in Thailand, demonstrating the heart of champions, as the delegation secured a final tally of 50 gold, 73 silver and 154 bronze medals — a total of 277 — to finish 6th overall as the Games officially closed on Saturday, December 20.

The Philippine Wushu team had a golden day, with Agatha Wong securing her sixth SEA Games gold with a total score of 19.556 points in the women’s wushu taijiquan and taijijian, and Jones Llabres Inso followed Wong’s lead with a combined score of 19.563 points.

Paris 2024 Olympian Elreen Ando ruled the women’s weightlifting 63kg class, securing the Philippines’ second gold of the day with a total lift of 229kg.

In shooting, Edcel John Gino in the men’s open production optic shooting, Genesis Pible in the women’s open production optic shooting competition, Rolly Nathaniel Tecson in men’s open standard practical shooting, and Erin Mattea Micor in the women’s open practical shooting all pulled gold medals in their respective events.

The athletics team delivered dual success in the 800-meter events, with Hussein Loraña in men’s athletics with a time of 1:48.80, mirrored by Naomi Marjorie Cesar, who also earned gold in the women’s event.

Paris 2024 Olympian Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon raced to give the Philippines another gold in women’s rowing double sculls, finishing with a time of 8:16.976.

Zyra Bon-As reigned supreme in the women’s kickboxing 48kg class, winning 2–1, and 17-year-old Jasmine Althea Ramilo made her golden mark by taking control in the women’s rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around.

Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, the former world No. 2, easily secured a gold medal in the men’s pole vault event, setting a new meet record of 5.70 meters.

The triathlon events were a clean sweep by the Philippines, with the women’s relay team (Kira Ellis, Raven Faith Alcoseba, and Kim Mangrobang), the men’s team relay (Iñaki Emil Lorbes, Fernando Jose Casares, and Matthew Justine Hermosa), and the mixed team relay, composed of Ellis, Casares, Andrew Kim Remolino, and Alcoseba, all claiming gold medals.

Team SIBOL achieved its fourth SEA Games title in esports by sweeping Malaysia, 4–0, in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) gold medal match.

In modern pentathlon, Melvin Sacay clinched gold in the men’s laser run individual with a time of 10:41.55, Michael Ver Anton Comaling anchored another gold in the men’s triathle individual with a time of 14:10.17, and Samuel German secured gold in the men’s obstacle laser run event.

Meanwhile, Pilipinas Ultimate secured the throne in the mixed flying disc ultimate division after a 9–7 victory against powerhouse Singapore.

Dhenver John Castillo won a gold medal in the men’s under-19 IQFoil windsurfing competition.

The Filipinas made history by surviving a nail-biting penalty shootout against four-peat champions Vietnam to claim the Philippines’ first-ever SEA Games women’s football title.

Tennis ace Alex Eala opened the Philippines’ golden campaign, since 1999, by dominating local bet Mananchaya Sawangkaew (6–1, 6–2) in the women’s tennis singles final match.

The RP Blu Boys claimed their ninth championship in men’s softball by blanking Singapore, 3–0, and the RP Blu Girls completed a championship sweep in softball and baseball by grabbing their 11th consecutive SEA Games title in women’s softball after beating Singapore, 4–1.

Peter Groseclose upgraded his earlier silver to a gold medal by racing in the men’s 500-meter short track speed skating.

Moreover, Gabriel Thomas Dinette won a gold medal in the men’s 86kg wrestling competition, while Eumir Marcial secured boxing’s lone gold for the Philippines by defeating Maikhe Roberrd Muskita of Indonesia via split decision in the men’s 80kg gold medal match.

The Philippine men’s bowling team, composed of Kenneth Chua, Marc Dylan Custodio, Artegal Barrientos, and Mark Jesus San Jose, defended its title in the tenpin bowling competitions.

The Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball team, composed of Cherry Ann Rondina, Sunnie Kalani Villapando, Bernadeth Pons, and Floremel Rodriguez, made history by claiming the country’s first-ever gold medal in the tournament by beating host Thailand.

Furthermore, Gilas Pilipinas Women secured the gold medal in women’s basketball, and Gilas Pilipinas Men claimed the country’s 50th gold, keeping the SEA Games basketball throne.

Host nation Thailand topped the standings with 233 gold, 154 silver, and 112 bronze medals, followed by Indonesia in second place with 91 gold, 111 silver, and 131 bronze medals.