Gabriel Thomas Dinette ended the 33rd Southeast Asian Games wrestling campaign on a high note, winning the men’s 86kg freestyle gold on Friday, December 19, at the Pacific Park Shopping Center Sriracha in Chonburi. The Philippines’ lone wrestling gold came after Dinette swept all four of his matches, including a 4-0 triumph over Thailand’s Chiranuwat Chamnanjan and an identical victory against Singapore’s Weng Luen Gary Chow.

Dinette’s remarkable performance capped an impressive year, having previously won double gold in the Philippine Wrestling National Championships in both the 86kg freestyle and the 82kg Greco-Roman divisions. His SEA Games triumph was the highlight of the Philippine wrestling team’s final day of competition.

Team Philippines shows depth and resilience

Beyond Dinette’s gold, the Philippine wrestling squad added several other medals to their tally. Hayden Tyler Ancheta and Ronil Tubog both claimed silver medals, while women’s competitors Arian Carpio (62kg) and Aliah Rose Gavalez (50kg) also finished second in their respective divisions. Rea Cervantes secured a bronze in the women’s 53kg freestyle class.

The freestyle competition concluded with Michael Andre Dargani taking bronze in the men’s 74kg division, showcasing the team’s depth and consistent effort across weight classes. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Jason Baucas (77kg) and Callum Roberts (97kg) each earned bronze, rounding out the medal haul for the Philippines.

Dinette’s victory underscores PH wrestling potential

Dinette’s flawless performance not only gave the team its only gold but also highlighted the potential of Philippine wrestling on the regional stage. His success provides a strong morale boost for the squad and demonstrates that Filipino wrestlers can deliver decisive results under pressure.

The championship finish sets a benchmark for future competitions and positions Dinette and his teammates as contenders for upcoming international wrestling events. The Philippines concluded the wrestling segment of SEA Games 33 with a mix of one gold, several silvers, and multiple bronzes, underscoring both talent and promise.