HIGHLIGHTS: SEA Games 2023 – May 6

Sarina Bolden walk-off winner pushes Filipinas past stellar Malaysia defense

The Philippine women’s football team cast a last-minute lifeline on their flatlining semifinal hopes after Sarina Bolden scored a walk-off header for a stunning 1-0 escape over Malaysia.

The Philippines must now work double-time after barely scraping by the fourth-ranked Malaysians and win big over pool leader Vietnam to ensure a superior goal difference over No. 3 Myanmar in the event of a triple tie at 6 points.

(READ: Bolden walk-off pushes PH past Malaysia, boosts dwindling semis hopes)

PH men’s volleyball winless in pool play

The Philippine men’s volleyball team remained winless in pool play after surrendering a straight-set loss against Singapore, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18.

It is the first winless record for the Philippines in the group stage since the 2015 edition, which is now at 0-3.

Singapore, which was also winless at 0-2 heading to the face-off, won its first sets at the expense of the Filipinos.

(READ: Struggling PH men’s volleyball team ends pool play winless)

PH bags aquathlon mixed relay gold

The quartet of Matthew Hermosa, Iñaki Lorbes, Kira Ellis, and Erika Burgos finished the fastest in the aquathlon mixed relay to secure the Philippines’ seventh gold.

The team clocked 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds, over a minute faster than runner-up Indonesia (1:11.27). Vietnam rounded out the podium finishers (1:13.29).

(LOOK: MEDAL TALLY: 2023 SEA Games)

Gilas men, women 3×3 teams reach semis 

Both the men’s and women’s Gilas 3×3 teams advanced to the knockout crossover semifinals after notching two wins each in pool play.

The Gilas Women 3×3 squad knocked off defending champion Thailand in a virtual win-or-go-home scenario, 14-8. The Filipinas also won against Laos, 21-6, after dropping their first game against Vietnam, 21-19.

Gilas 3×3, meanwhile, already secured its spot in the semis even before playing their final elims game after dominating its first two assignments, blasting Laos, 21-5, and Vietnam, 21-13. Almond Vosotros nailed the game-clinching jumpers from downtown in both games.

The men’s team completed a sweep in the nightcap, downing Indonesia, 21-11 (3:03 left). The Filipinos will head as the top seed in the semis and face the No. 2 in Group B.

The semifinals will be played on Sunday, May 7. 

(READ: Gilas men, women 3×3 reach SEA Games semis)

SEA Games hat trick for jiu-jitsu’s Ramirez

Jiu-jitsu ace Annie Ramirez completed a hat trick of SEA Games gold medals after lording over the women’s ne-waza NOGI -57kg event.

Ramirez reigned for the third straight SEA Games following her conquests in the women’s -55kg in 2019 and women’s -62kg in 2021.

She became jiu-jitsu’s second champion here after Kaila Napolis won the Philippines’ first gold medal in the women’s ne-waza GI -52kg.

(READ: Ramirez, Alforte shine in combat sports as PH raises SEA Games gold tally to 7)

Alforte wins PH first karate gold, Vasquez snags bronze

Filipina-Japanese Sakura Alforte nailed the Philippines’ first gold medal in karate after topping the women’s kata individual event.

Alforte tallied 40.8 points to dethrone 2021 SEA Games champion Nguyen Thi Phuong, who settled for silver with 40.2 points.

Enrique Vasquez added a medal to karate’s haul with a bronze in men’s kata individual.

(READ: Ramirez, Alforte shine in combat sports as PH raises SEA Games gold tally to 7)

Arbois takes marathon silver, Hallasgo bronze 

The Philippines claimed a silver in men’s marathon and a bronze in women’s action.

Arlan Estobo Arbois copped the second-place finish after clocking 2 hours, 33 minutes, and 27 seconds in the men’s 42K race. The Filipino finished about 30 seconds behind Indonesian gold winner Agus Prayogo (2:32:59).

In the women’s race, Christine Hallasgo settled for bronze following a 2:50:27 finish, ending up behind Indonesia’s Odekta Elvina Naibaho (2:48:14), and Vietnam’s Thi Tuyet Le (2:49:21).

Andrew Remolino wins silver in aquathlon

Andrew Remolino nabbed silver in men’s individual aquathlon with a time of 15 minutes and 7 seconds, bowing only to Indonesia’s Rashif Yaqin with a 14:28 golden finish.

Remolino’s counterpart Raven Alcoseba, meanwhile, was not as fortunate in the women’s division, as she posted a 17:43 time for fourth place, 11 seconds away from a podium finish.

PH nabs pair of obstacle course racing golds, silvers

Precious Cabuya and Mark Julius Rodelas delivered the Philippines its third and fourth gold medals as they ruled the obstacle course racing events. 

Cabuya broke the world record for the second straight time after shattering her previous mark of 33.13 seconds with 32.73 in the women’s final, where Kaizen dela Serna bagged silver with 35.52 for a 1-2 finish for the Philippines. 

(READ: Cabuya, Rodelas complete obstacle golden runs as PH dominates)

The Philippines also nailed a gold and silver in men’s action as Rodelas topped the event with 25.19 seconds, besting compatriot Kevin Pascua who clocked 26.81. 

Eyeing a four-gold sweep in the sport, the Philippines also looks to rule the men’s and women’s team relay finals set on Sunday, May 7.

Preview

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – More gold medals head Team Philippines’ way as action in the Southeast Asian Games goes full blast on Saturday, May 6, after the regional showpiece formally opened a day prior.

The country is assured of two golds and two silvers in obstacle course racing, where it will be an all-Filipino finals in both the men’s and women’s individual events.

Precious Cabuya and Kaizen dela Serna dispute the women’s crown, while Mark Julius Rodelas and Kevin Pascua vie for the men’s title.

Over in athletics, Christine Hallasgo seeks to reclaim the women’s marathon gold medal she captured in 2019 after settling for silver in Vietnam last year, with teammate Ruffa Sorongon also eyeing a crack at the top prize.

Richard Salano and Arlan Arbois see action in men’s marathon, where the Philippines aims for a podium finish after going empty-handed in Hanoi.

Inspired by Kaila Napolis‘ feat as the first Filipino athlete to win gold here, the rest of the jiu-jitsu team look to win more medals as Myron Mangubat (men’s ne-waza GI -62kg), Annie Ramirez (women’s ne-waza NOGI -57kg), Michael Tiu (men’s ne-waza GI -69kg) take their turn on the mat.

Gold medals are also up for grabs in cycling, aquathlon, swimming, karate, petanque, vovinam, soft tennis, sepak takraw, and esports.

The Philippines currently owns two golds, two silvers, and three bronzes.

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