Photo: Philippine Olympic Committee

By Rafael Bandayrel

Team Philippines continued its strong showing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, adding six more gold medals on Friday, December 12, to further build momentum in Thailand.

The Philippine men’s baseball team once again asserted its dominance, clinching a third straight SEA Games gold after edging host Thailand, 5-3, in the championship game. Veteran pitcher Romeo Jasmin anchored the win with 10 strikeouts over eight innings before left-hander Amiel de Guzman sealed the victory by retiring the final three batters.

Eighteen-year-old Tachiana Mangin announced herself on the regional stage by capturing her first SEA Games gold in the women’s -49kg kyorugi taekwondo event. Mangin swept home bet Kamonchanok Seeken of Thailand, 2-0, in the finals, adding to her growing resume that already includes a World Junior Championship gold.

In the pool, Kayla Sanchez made history by becoming the first Filipino athlete to win multiple gold medals in the 2025 SEA Games. The 24-year-old led a one-two finish for the Philippines in the women’s 100m freestyle, clocking 54.82 seconds to beat teammate Heather White. Sanchez earlier anchored the gold-winning women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Photo: Philippine Olympic Committee

Gymnast John Ivan Cruz also stood atop the podium after ruling the men’s vault finals. Cruz posted a total score of 13.833, tying Malaysia’s Aimy Muhammad Sharul for the gold. It marked Cruz’s second SEA Games gold after his floor exercise triumph in the previous edition.

On the track, John Cabang Tolentino delivered a record-breaking performance to secure the Philippines’ first athletics gold of the meet. Tolentino clocked 13.66 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles, shattering the SEA Games record of 13.69 set in 2015. He finished ahead of Singapore’s Chen Xiang Ang and Thailand’s Abdul Lattif Mohamad Armin Zahryl.

Photo: Philippine Olympic Committee

Rounding out the golden haul was Hokett Delos Santos, who dominated the men’s decathlon with 6,917 points after two days of competition. His victory gave the Philippines a second gold in athletics, finishing comfortably ahead of Thailand’s Singkhon Suttisak and Indonesia’s Richsan Idan Fauzan.

With the six-gold surge, the Philippines now sits fifth in the overall medal standings with 62 total medals, composed of 11 golds, 16 silvers, and 35 bronzes.