BANGKOK – The country's figure skaters added two medals to the Philippines' tally in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
In her first-ever SEA Games, Maxine Bautista copped silver in the women's figure skating event with an overall score of 129.33.
"Honestly it's amazing, I'm just happy to bring back a medal for the Philippines," Bautista told Philippine Olympic Committee Media after the event.
"It was so much fun, like this experience, the atmosphere, everyone. And it's fun to be with my team too. It was a great experience," she added.
Thailand's Kaneshige Phattaratida won gold with a score of 150.74, while bronze went to another hometown bet, Lerdpraiwan Pimmpida, with 122.11.
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Bautista said she is happy with her performance but believes there's still room for improvement.
"All programs definitely had not like mistakes. Overall, I'm just happy that I was able to get a medal," she said.
Fellow Philippine figure skater Cathryn Limketkai placed fifth in women's figure skating with a score of 116.30.
In men's figure skating, Paolo Borromeo powered through back pains to clinch bronze for the Philippines in his SEA Games debut.
Borromeo earned an overall score of 128.39 following his performances.
"I'm mostly relieved to at least have taken home a medal. My skate is not what I'm capable of but I'm happy to have fought through it," the California-based figure skater said in an interview with POC Media.
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"I've been dealing with a back pain, maybe an injury or something we're not sure yet. It's been kinda persistent through the past month, even through nationals. But I'm just trying to ignore it and kinda do whatever I can to get past it and make it to this weekend. So I'm glad I was able to fight through that" he explained.
Borromeo is grateful for the support from Filipinos in his SEA Games debut.
Philippine figure skater Brandon Baldoz finished fourth with 127.90 points overall.
Malaysia's Ze Zeng Fang took home gold with 157.22, while Thailand's Aaron Kulvatounyou got silver.