BANGKOK – Despite sending its largest delegation of athletes ever to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, the Philippines finished the regional showcase in sixth place -- one rung below its placing two years ago in Cambodia.
The country ended with 50 gold medals, 73 silver medals, and 153 bronze medals for a total of 276 medals.
Before the regional showcase, the Philippine Olympic Committee said the target was to either meet or exceed the gold medal count in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
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However, their total from Thailand is lower than the 58 golds and fifth place finish achieved in 2023, as well as the record 149 gold haul in the 2019 SEA Games held in the Philippines.
Despite not hitting the initial target, the POC and Philippine Sports Commission are looking at the positives in the country's campaign in the 33rd SEA Games.
"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," POC President Abraham Tolentino told POC Media on Saturday.
"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.
Tolentino was referring to the restrictions and limitations set by the host nation across sports on eligibility and other related issues.
"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.
As for PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, he believes the country won in sports that the host nation wanted to dominate like basketball, baseball, football, among others.
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"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," he said.
Gregorio highlighted the 153 bronze medals the country got in the regional showcase, the highest in the medal tally, as a stepping stone for grassroots 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 said.
A bulk of the bronze medals came from athletics with 19 medals. Fencing added 11 and Muay delivered 8.
Host nation Thailand topped the medal tally with 233 golds, 154 silvers, 112 bronzes.
Indonesia came in second with 91 gold medals, 111 silvers, and 131 bronzes, while Vietnam finished in third place with 87 golds, 81 silvers and 110 bronzes.