Kimberly Custodio and Dean Roxas stamped their dominance in the jiu jitsu ne-waza events at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday at the Ronnaphakat Building of the Navaminda Kasatiryahiraj Air Force Academy in Bangkok.

Custodio, a three-time World Champion, delivered one of the day’s highlights after overpowering Thailand’s Sugun Nutchaya in the women’s 48kg ne-waza final. The match remained tight until the closing moments, when Custodio secured a crucial three-point control in the last 30 seconds. That decisive sequence gave her enough separation to close out the victory.

The triumph marked Custodio’s first SEA Games gold, adding another milestone to her decorated career. Her control, timing, and composure allowed her to outwork the hometown favorite in front of a vocal crowd.

Roxas secures dominant gold in men’s 85kg

Dean Roxas followed with an emphatic performance in the men’s 85kg ne-waza final, submitting Singapore’s Aacus Hou Yu Ee in swift fashion. His control and aggression were evident from the opening exchange, giving the Philippines its fourth gold medal of the tournament.

Roxas described his journey to the SEA Games mats as challenging. He revealed that a recent injury nearly derailed his campaign. Despite the setback, he delivered a composed and clinical finish to take his second SEA Games gold after winning in 2019. He said he was grateful to compete and represent the country at the highest level.

Baluyo settles for silver as Philippines adds more medals

The Philippines nearly added another gold in the men’s 69kg ne-waza final, but Yman Baluyo fell by submission to Vietnam’s Dang Dinh Tung. Baluyo’s silver kept the team’s momentum going early in the tournament.

Earlier in the day, the national team captured three bronze medals courtesy of Kaila Napolis, Marc Lim, and Vito Luzuriaga. Their performances rounded out a productive session for the delegation, strengthening the country’s overall medal haul in Bangkok.