RP bags 7 gold medals, climbs to 4th place in SEA Games

(Update 4 - 5:21 p.m.) Four victories – one in rowing and three in athletics – boosted the Philippines' gold from three to seven medals on Saturday and lifted its standing to fourth place at the Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The Philippines thus overtook Malaysia with its 33 medals – seven gold, 10 silver, and 16 bronze. The four gold medals were garnered by the rowing team composed of Benjamin Tolentino Jr. and Jose Rodriguez ruled the men's double sculls category, Ryan Mendoza in the men’s duathlon, Arniel Ferrera in the men's hammer throw competition, and Rene Herrera in 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Philippines' other gold medals were earned were Ryan Arabejo in men’s 200-meter-backstroke, Miguel Molina in the 400-meter individual swimming medley, and Joey Barba in the men’s downhill cycling. The other medals won by the Filipino athletes on Saturday were:

• Silver for the rowing team composed of Alvin Amposta and Nestor Cordova in the men's lightweight double sculls
• Silver for Midel Dique in the men's 800-meter run
• Bronze for the women's rowing team composed of Clothelde Nillas and Johnalyn Pedrita in the lightweight double sculls
• Bronze for the men's tennis team composed of Frederick Taino and Cecil Mamiit
• Bronze for the women’s tennis team composed of Diane Matias, Czarina Arevalo, and Denise Dy
• Bronze for August Benedicto in the men's duathlon
• Bronze for Analiza Dysangco in the women's duathlon
• Bronze for Emmanuel Reyes and Maria Rosete in the standard waltz event of dance sport
• Bronze for the Reynato Rener Mercado and Judith Anne Melencio in the Latin American cha cha cha event of dance sport

Thailand, the host country, remains at the top with 40 gold medals, followed by Vietnam with 17, and Singapore with 11, according to the results posted in the SEA Games website. Malaysia went down to the fifth rank with 5 gold medals, followed by Indonesia with 4, Myanmar with 2, and Laos with two. - AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV