The Philippines ended its Asian Youth Games campaign on a high note as Isabella Joseline Butler claimed gold in the girls’ -63kg jiujitsu division on Thursday. The 17-year-old submitted the United Arab Emirates’ Aysha Aljneibi via collar choke with just over a minute remaining.

Butler, born in Davao City and now based in Huntington Beach, California, said representing the Philippines was a meaningful experience. Her victory raised the country’s medal count to seven gold, seven silver, and ten bronze, placing 12th overall among 45 nations.

Filipino athletes shine across disciplines

The young jiujitsu star has already won gold at the JJIF Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Greece last year. Butler now aims to join the adult national team and compete in the SEA Games. “I plan to try out for the adult team next year and compete at the SEA Games,” she said.

On her way to gold, Butler defeated Thailand’s Maria Elissavet Kokoliou, 4-0, in the quarterfinals, Uzbekistan’s Ziyoda Shomurodova, 4-0, in the semifinals, and submitted Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Dossymzhankyzy in the Round of 16. Butler credited her success to her training in close guard and lapel guard techniques.

Other gold medalists for the Philippines included Kram Airam Carpio in pencak silat, Charlie Ratcliff in modern MMA, Pi Durden Wangkay in athletics, Lyre Anie Ngina and Zeth Gabriel Bueno in muay, and the pair Jan Brix Ramiscal & Tyron Jamborillo in mixed team muay.

Fifteen-year-old Mara Alexandria Sarinas added a bronze in the girls’ -57kg jiujitsu division after submitting Thailand’s Prasita Rumakom. Sixteen-year-old Sebastien Blaize Cabanlig came close in the boys’ -48kg jiujitsu but missed the podium. Other young Filipinos put up strong performances across mats and wrestling arenas, even if gold proved elusive.