TEAM Philippines is starting to find its footing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, clinching three gold medals on the second day of competition in Bangkok, Thailand.
It was a big day for the Philippine jiu-jitsu team as jiu-jitsu fighters Kimberly Anne Custodio and Dean Roxas banked on their brute force to reign supreme in each of their respective events at the packed Navaminda Kasatiryahiraj Air Force Academy.
Proving why she is a three-time world champion, Custodio overcame a close, tactical duel against Thailand’s Sugun Nutchaya in the finals of the women’s 48kg ne-waza event.
Custodio — who is making her SEA Games debut — did not waver under pressure and slowly turned the tables against the host country’s bet, snatching the lead with a decisive three-point control in the final 30 seconds of the match to bag the country’s third gold medal of the biennial meet.
Not far behind, Roxas followed suit with a statement win of his own, imposing a complete domination against Singapore’s Aacus Hou Yu Ee in the men’s 85kg final.
Fresh from an injury that sidelined him for a couple of weeks, the 34-year-old national team standout made the difficult look easy as he forced a quick submission victory against the Singaporean to top the tournament.
Meanwhile, Yman Xavier Baluyo also brought pride to the country as he won the silver medal in the men’s Ne-waza 69kg.
The Philippine Jiu-Jitsu team closed their Day 2 campaign with a bronze medal rush: Marc Alexander Lim in the ju-jitsu Ne-waza 69kg competition, Vito Luis Luzuriaga in the ju-jitsu Ne-waza 85kg and Kaila Napolis in the ju-jitsu Ne-waza 57kg event.
The grace and fluid motion of Philippine gymnastics was also on full display at Thammasat University’s Gymnasium 5, with the national team winning four medals.
Filipina gymnast Aleah Finnegan once again reminded everyone why the future is now as the 22-year-old dominated the vault finals of the women’s artistic gymnastics competition.
Adding yet another gold medal to her already decorated SEA Games medal haul, the Paris Olympian flaunted clean lines and explosive yet elegant execution that paved the way for a tournament-best 13.433 score.
The top finish is Finnegan’s third gold in the regional games after also topping the team and vault in her SEA Games debut in the 2021 edition in Hanoi.
“This one is incredibly special. I prayed to Jesus all the time. I am nothing without Him. I know He is with me,” Finnegan shared, remembering the hardships she faced leading up to the competition.
Finnegan has a chance to add to her personal medal tally as she is expected to also compete in the balance beam finals this Friday.
Aside from Aleah, Haylee Garcia and Justin Ace De Leon also delivered medals for Team PH Gymnastics.
Garcia barely came up short of a gold finish, seizing the silver medal in the uneven bars tournament with a 12.333 showing in the final.
On the other hand, De Leon will bring home two bronze medals from the rings and floor exercise events.