MANILA — Ernest John Obiena powered the Philippines’ latest gold-medal surge at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, smashing the meet record to secure a fourth straight men’s pole vault title Tuesday night at Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Obiena stamped his authority early, clearing 5.70 meters on his opening attempt to establish a new SEA Games mark and put the contest beyond reach. The Filipino ace’s winning vault immediately separated him from the rest of the field and reaffirmed his dominance in the region.
Thailand’s Patasapong Amsam-ang mounted a late challenge, matching 5.70 meters on his third try to clinch the silver medal. Both vaulters, however, failed to clear 5.75 meters after three attempts at the height.
At 30, Obiena extended his reign in the biennial meet to four consecutive titles, further underlining his standing as one of the world’s elite pole vaulters after years of steady rise on the international stage.
The Philippines also celebrated a podium double in the event as Fil-American Elijah Cole bagged the bronze medal with a best clearance of 5.20 meters, boosting the country’s athletics haul.
Beyond the track and field, Team Philippines continued to rack up golds across disciplines. Kim Mangrobang, Kira Ellis, and Raven Faith Alcoseba delivered the gold medal in the women’s triathlon team relay, while the men’s team was composed of Inaki Emil Lorbes, Fernando Jose Casares, and Matthew Justine Hermosa.
In rowing, Olympian Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon exceeded expectations by capturing gold at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Centre in Rayong, Thailand. Third in the preliminary round, the Filipina tandem surged in the final, clocking 8 minutes and 16.976 seconds to deny Thai bets Sukkaew Rawiwan and Chaempudsa Parisa.
Delgaco and Paraon finished nearly five seconds ahead of the Thais, who posted 8:21.634, while Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Van Anh and Pham Thi Bich Ngoc settled for bronze with 8:26.447.
Adding to the golden run, Zyra Bon-as ruled the women’s low kick 48-kilogram category in kickboxing, and Jasmine Althea Ramilo topped the women’s rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around event to claim another gold for the Philippines./PN
