A Golden Moment for Philippine Sports

The Philippine men’s curling team delivered an unforgettable gold-medal performance on the final day of the 9th Asian Winter Games, defeating South Korea 5-3 in the championship match at the Pingfang Curling Arena in Harbin, China.

This victory marks the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the Asian Winter Games, making the country the best-performing Southeast Asian nation in the history of the tournament.

How the Philippines Won Gold

• Strong Start: The team took an early 3-1 lead before South Korea tied the game at 3-3 after the sixth end.
• Calm and Composed Finish: The Filipinos secured the last two ends, scoring one point each, to seal the 5-3 victory.
• Revenge Against South Korea: The Philippines had lost 1-6 to South Korea in the round-robin stage but turned the tables in the final.

The Team Behind the Historic Win

Led by skipper Marc Pfister, the gold-medal team included:

• Enrico Pfister (Second)
• Christian Haller (Vice Skipper)
• Alan Frei (Lead)

Pfister, a veteran with 26 years of experience in curling, expressed his confidence in the team:

“Gold medal for Team Philippines, and we expected ourselves to win. It’s not just any medal—it’s gold.”

Inspired by Family and Determination

Marc Pfister’s 16-week pregnant wife, Jessica Pfister, served as the team’s coach and played a crucial role in their journey.

“She inspired me throughout this tournament, and I dedicate this win to her and our upcoming baby.”

Path to the Championship

• Round Robin: Finished 4-1, securing a qualification spot.
• Knockout Round: Defeated Japan 10-4 in the quarterfinals.
• Semifinals: Edged past host China 7-6 in a tense battle.
• Finals: Overcame unbeaten South Korea 5-3 to clinch the gold.

A First for Southeast Asia

The Philippines is now the first Southeast Asian nation to win a gold medal in the Asian Winter Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino celebrated the moment:

“We are so proud of this milestone. This gold is not just for the Philippines but for all of Southeast Asia.”

Other Filipino Athletes at the Winter Games

While the curling team claimed the only medal for the Philippines, other Filipino athletes competed in various sports:

• Curling Mixed Doubles: Marc Pfister and Kathleen Dubberstein finished 4th place.
• Figure Skating:
  • Sofia Frank (12th)
  • Cathryn Limketkai (9th)
  • Paolo Borromeo (10th)
  • Isabella Gamez & Aleksander Korovin (4th in Pairs)
• Alpine Skiing:
  • Tallulah Proulx (16th in women’s slalom)
  • Francis Ceccarelli (Disqualified in men’s slalom)
• Short Track Speed Skating:
  • Peter Groseclose (did not qualify for semifinals in all events)
• Freestyle Skiing:
  • Laetaz Amihan Rabe (6th in both freeski slopestyle and big air)

What’s Next for Philippine Curling?

The historic gold medal win has put Philippine curling on the map and opened the door for more support and development in winter sports.

As the first-ever Southeast Asian gold medalists, the men’s curling team’s victory is expected to inspire future generations of Filipino athletes to compete on the global winter sports stage.