By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Philippine national sports teams will head home with a fourth-place finish during the recently concluded 2022 Southeast Asian Games.
A total of 228 medals were bagged by the PH delegation which included 51 golds, 71 silvers, and 106 bronze medals after the two-week prestigious sporting event in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Pole vaulting sensation EJ Obiena, gymnastics superstar Carlos Yulo, PH’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist boxer Eumir Marcial, and billiards power duo Carlo Biado and Johann Chua headlined the list of the country’s gold medalists.
It was an impressive run for the PH after cracking into the top five despite shocking losses from the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team whose 13-year SEA Games dominance came to an end at the hands of Indonesia and Tokyo Olympian Nesthy Petecio who settled for the bronze medal in women’s boxing.
Making up for Petecio’s surprising exit were kababayan boxers Rogen Ladon and Ian Clark Bautista who helped the country garner more gold medals during the last day of the SEA Games.
Meanwhile, Irish Magno, another part of the national team’s pool during the Tokyo Olympics, notched the silver medal in her category.
Notable bronze medalists were Filipino billiard legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, Carlos Carag, Zephania Ngaya, Marjon Pianar, Josie Gabuco, and James Palicte.
Indonesia edged the PH as they collected a total of 240 medals: 69 golds, 91 silvers, and 80 bronze medals as the third-placers.
Host country Vietnam reigned supreme during the medal tally and won an impressive 446 medals: 206 golds, 126 silvers, and 114 bronze medals.
The Philippines slid three places down since hosting the prestigious SEA Games three years ago where they ended up as the overall champions with 387 total medals.
