The Philippine track and field team ended its campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on a high note, posting five gold, seven silver, and 19 bronze medals at Suphachalasai National Stadium. The 31-medal haul confirmed the country’s steady rise in regional athletics.

With 61 athletes competing, the Philippines finished fourth overall in athletics, trailing host Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Malaysia completed the top five as Filipino athletes delivered consistency across multiple events.

EJ Obiena capped the campaign with a dramatic victory in the pole vault, securing his fourth consecutive SEA Games gold. The former world No. 2 cleared a meet-record 5.70 meters to edge Thailand’s Amsamarng Patsapong on countback.

Both vaulters surpassed the previous SEA Games mark, but Obiena claimed gold by clearing the height on his first attempt. His win underscored his status as the country’s standard-bearer in athletics.

Golds across multiple disciplines

The Philippines opened its gold medal run through hurdler John Christopher Cabang, who ruled the men’s 110m hurdles in record fashion. Cabang clocked 13.66 seconds to break the previous SEA Games standard set in 2015.

Decathlete Hokett Delos Santos followed with a breakthrough gold, amassing 6,917 points across 10 events to outlast his Thai and Indonesian rivals. The UST standout showcased endurance and versatility to deliver another major title for the team.

Middle-distance runners Hussein Loraña and Naomi Marjorie Cesar later added to the gold tally in the 800m events, highlighting the depth of Philippine athletics beyond the field disciplines.

Obiena also led a strong showing in the pole vault, where Elijah Kevin Cole contributed a bronze medal to complete a productive final day. The event capped a campaign defined by consistency rather than reliance on a single star.

Signs of steady progress

PATAFA officials credited the medal haul to long-term development and sustained support for elite athletes. The 5-7-19 finish marked an improvement from recent SEA Games performances and reflected broader competitiveness across events.

Beyond the medalists, several Filipinos reached finals and set personal or national benchmarks, reinforcing the program’s upward trajectory. The overall showing suggested a solid foundation for future regional and international meets.

With athletes like Obiena anchoring the present and a new generation emerging, Philippine athletics closed the SEA Games with momentum. The results pointed to a program steadily narrowing the gap with Southeast Asia’s traditional powers.