By Adrian Stewart Co
In a repeat of the last time the Southeast Games were held in the Philippines, the host squad was named the overall champions of the biennial sporting event after collecting a record-setting 386 medals, including 149 gold, 117 silver, and 120 bronze medals.
Vietnam finished in second place with 97 gold, 85 silver, and 104 bronze medals; while Thailand finished in third place with 92 gold, 103 silver, and 122 bronze medals.
The Philippines closed their campaign with a slew of athletics medals including Eric Cray winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles; Aries Toledo taking gold in men’s decathlon, while Janry Ubas won bronze; Joida Gagnao of Guimaras winning silver in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase; William Morrison III capturing silver in the discus throw; Mark Harry Diones taking silver in triple jump; Edgardo Alejan, Michael Del Prado, Frederick Ramirez, and Joyme Sequita taking the bronze medal in the men’s 4×400 meter relay; and Eloiza Luzon, Jessel Lumapas, Maureen Schrijvers, and Robyn Brown finishing third in women’s 4×400 relay, along with Brown taking bronze in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.
In other results, Gina Iniong and Jean Claude Saclag both captured gold in kickboxing, while Karol Mangude won bronze; Adrian Guggenheim and Annie Ramirez won gold in jiu-jitsu, while Luigi Ladera and April Eppinger captured silver, and Peter Maimban earned a bronze medal; Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit won gold in billiards in the women’s 9-ball pool doubles event, as Jeffery Roda won gold in the men’s snooker singles competition; Jhonny Morte, Ronil Tubog, Alvin Lobregito, and Minalyn Foy-os each earned a silver medal in freestyle wrestling; and Carlos Carag captured silver in shooting.
Meanwhile, in Esports, Caviar Acampado won gold at Starcraft II; while Alexandre Lavarez and Andreij Albar took silver and bronze medals, respectively, in Tekken 7.
The SEA Games formally came to a close last night at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, which featured performances by Grammy-winning group, the Black Eyed Peas, and Journey frontman Arnel Pineda.
The games were also formally handed over to Vietnam, who hosts the event in 2021./ASC, WDJ
