RP ups gold medals to 12, zooms to 3rd in SEA Games

Nine victories – one in rowing, two in fencing, two in dance sports, four in athletics – boosted the Philippines' gold collection from three to 12 medals on Saturday and lifted its standing to third place at the Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The Philippines thus overtook Malaysia and Singapore. The Philippines' other gold medals were earned before Saturday by 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. Also on Saturday, the Filipino athletes earned three silver and 10 bronze medals. The gold medalists

• The rowing team composed of Benjamin Tolentino Jr. and Jose Rodriguez in the men's double sculls category
• Ryan Mendoza in the men’s duathlon
• Arniel Ferrera in the men's hammer throw competition
• Rene Herrera in 3,000-meter steeplechase
• Marestella Torres in the women's long jump
• Emmanuel Reyes and Maira Rosete in the standard tango event of dance sports
• Reyes and Rosete again in the standard quickstep event of dance sports
• Michelle Bruzola in the women's individual epee event of fencing
• Emerson Segui in the men's individual foil event of fencing

Silver medalists

• The rowing team composed of Alvin Amposta and Nestor Cordova in the men's lightweight double sculls
• Midel Dique in the men's 800-meter run
• Harlene Orendain in the women's individual epee event of fencing

Bronze medalists

• The women's rowing team composed of Clothelde Nillas and Johnalyn Pedrita in the lightweight double sculls
• The men's tennis team composed of Frederick Taino and Cecil Mamiit
• The women’s tennis team composed of Diane Matias, Czarina Arevalo, and Denise Dy
• August Benedicto in the men's duathlon
• Analiza Dysangco in the women's duathlon
• Emmanuel Reyes and Maria Rosete in the standard waltz event of dance sport
• Reynato Rener Mercado and Judith Anne Melencio in the Latin American cha cha cha event of dance sport
• Rolando Canlas Jr. in the men's individual foil event of fencing
• Joanna Franquelli in the women's individual saber event of fencing
• Bronze for the 4x400-meter men's relay team composed of Junrey Bano, Julius Felicisimo Nierras Jr., Rodrigo Tanuan Jr., and Ernie Candelario

Thailand, the host country, remains at the top with 42 gold medals, followed by Vietnam with 21. - GMANews.TV