By Myris Lee
The team Philippines is in beast mode to defend the Philippines’ Southeast Asian (SEA) Games crown during the third day of 31st edition of the biennial games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The national team ended the third day of the sportsfest with 20 gold, 25 silver, and 36 bronze medals to stand at third place in the official SEA Games medal tally, up from its fourth place for three consecutive days.
Filipino gymnastics Olympian Carlos Yulo led the Philippine squad by taking his second and third gold medals in the men’s artistic gymnastics rings and by retaining his crown in the men’s floor exercise with a final score of 15.200.
Yulo’s winning streak in his three events fell short after settling for silver in Artistic Men’s Parallel bars.
Aleah Finnegan did not let the women’s gymnastics squad be left behind by winning the gold medal in artistic gymnastics women’s vault.
The duo of Stephanie Sabalo De Leon and Michael Angelo Marquez of the Philippine dancesport team earned one gold in single dance Latin cha-cha and two silver medals in single dance Latin jive and all-five dances Latin events.
The pair of Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Maria Caneda also added a silver medal in the single dance Latin samba and two bronze medals in the single dance Latin rumba, as well as in single dance Latin paso doble.
William Morrison threw a golden shot in the athletics men’s shot put event to retain his title in the 2019 Manila SEA Games.
Wushu athlete Arnel Mandal delivered another gold medal for the country in the men’s sandra 56-kg event.
National swimmer Jessica Joy Geriane hit a silver medal in the women’s 50-m backstroke event by clocking a new Philippine record of 29.35 seconds.
Three more silver medals were added to the country, courtesy of Nathaniel Perez in the men’s foil individual event, Jollirine Co in jiujitsu women’s U-45-kg Nogi event, and Janry Ubas in the men’s long jump.
Team Philippines also had two bronze medals each in athletics, courtesy of Joida Gagnao in the women’s 3000-m steeplechase event and Sonny Wagdos for the athletics men’s 5000-m competition.
In jiujitsu, Marc Lim in the men’s U-69-kg and Jan Vincent Cortez bagged two bronze medals.
John Derick Farr failed to defend his 2019 SEA Games title by pocketing the bronze medal in the men’s mountain bike downhill individual competition, while his teammate Naomi Gardoce also won a bronze in women’s mountain bike downhill individual event.
Meanwhile, tennis sensation Alex Eala and her teammates Marian Capadocia, Shaira Rivera, and Jenaila Prulla bagged the bronze medal at the women’s team event. – ag
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