Team PH execs see SEA Games campaign as success

MANILA — Top Philippine sports officials described Team Philippines’ campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as “very successful,” despite the country finishing sixth overall and missing its pre-Games gold medal target.

The Philippines ended the biennial regional meet with 50 gold medals, 73 silver medals, and 153 bronze medals, for a total haul of 276 medals, even after sending its largest delegation of athletes to date.

Prior to the competition, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said the goal was to meet or surpass the country’s gold medal output in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

The Thailand tally fell short of the 58 gold medals and fifth-place finish achieved in Cambodia, as well as the record-breaking 149-gold performance when the Philippines hosted the SEA Games in 2019.

Despite missing the numerical target, POC President Abraham Tolentino said the overall outcome exceeded expectations given the circumstances of the host country’s rules and limitations.

“Very successful para sa amin. We broke many records, we defended, we beat their games yun ang importante doon. We beat their games. We defended our games. Ganun lang ka-simple,” Tolentino told POC Media.

Tolentino cited key victories that went beyond medal counts, including the women’s football gold medal win over host Thailand and the country’s continued dominance in basketball.

“Bonus na nga yung ano eh, yung gold ng [women’s football] na talunin yung Thailand. Nandun pa yung basketball as predicted, in spite, mabigat yung in spite. Applicable to all sports yun eh. It’s an uphill battle,” he said.

The POC chief acknowledged that host-imposed eligibility restrictions and competition rules posed challenges for many delegations, including the Philippines.

“Masakit man sabihin… This is a brutal SEA Games, ‘di ba? Yun yung inspite. Pero hindi kinaya ng iba, Pilipino pa rin ang nanaig,” Tolentino said.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio echoed the assessment, saying Team Philippines succeeded in events that mattered most to the host nation.

“We won in games that mattered most. We won in competitions that mattered most… to them. Doon natin sila tinalo. Miski naman tayo na-sorpresa. That proves that we can excel in Olympic competitions. Yun naman ang hangarin natin,” Gregorio said.

Gregorio highlighted the country’s 153 bronze medals—the highest bronze tally among all participating nations—as a critical investment in grassroots sports development.

“Yung bronze medals na yan, yan yung grassroots natin. At mag-iimprove at mag-iimprove yan because we gave them an opportunity to participate in the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok,” he said.

“Masaya sila na nakapag-compete sila eh. Kasi the next generation of Olympian dito galing yan eh diba? Yung mga ganitong labanan strategic ito eh, saan ba natin dadalhin? Ang ending naman nito Olympics eh,” Gregorio added.

Athletics accounted for the largest share of the bronze medals with 19, followed by fencing with 11 and muay with eight.

Host Thailand topped the medal standings with 233 golds, 154 silvers, and 112 bronzes, while Indonesia placed second with 91 golds, 111 silvers, and 131 bronzes, and Vietnam finished third with 87 golds, 81 silvers, and 110 bronzes.

Gregorio later reiterated that the Philippines’ performance should be viewed beyond rankings, stressing competitive wins in marquee sports.

“I think you will share with me the assessment, and 112 million Filipinos will agree that we won the golds in sports that mattered most,” he said.

“Congratulations to Thailand for winning No. 1, pero tayo, ‘yung gusto nating mapanalunan, sa events na gusto nating mapanalunan, tayo ang nanalo. At ‘yung mga ginto na hindi natin akalain na mananalo tayo, nanalo pa rin tayo—like football. We won in sports that mattered most. Congratulations, Team Pilipinas!” Gregorio added.