MANILA – Ilonggo muaythai fighter Phillip Delarmino saw his silver medal turn into gold as Team Philippines closed out its campaign in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Monday in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Delarmino was hailed as the gold medal winner in the men’s -57 kilogram after the Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP) protested the outcome of the Pinoy fighter’s finale match against hometown bet Nguyen Doan Long.
A Dumangas, Iloilo native, Delarmino was initially awarded with silver medal on Sunday afternoon following a close and controversial 1-2 loss to Nguyen.
But an appeal made by MAP’s Pearl Managuelod allowed the outcome to be overturned as it was clearly seen in the review that it was Delarmino who landed cleaner hits against Nguyen.
This was the second time that Delarmino has overpowered Nguyen. The Ilonggo muaythai fighter also defeated the Vietnamese for the gold during the 30th SEA Games in 2019.
Rubilen Amit also added to the Philippines’ gold haul. She bagged her second billiards gold medal by defeating fellow Filipina Chezka Centeno in the women’s 10-ball singles finals, 7-5.
The tandem of Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales also delivered a gold in the men’s doubles of tennis after beating fellow Pinoys Jeson Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara, 6-1, 6-4, in the finale.
Weightlifter Vanessa Sarno, on the other hand, captured a gold medal in the women’s 71kg division, while Filipino-Japanese judoka Shugen Nakano topped the Men’s -66 kilogram finals.
Capturing silver medals were Bacolodnon Khrizzie Pabulayan and Daryl John Mercado inbJudo, Elreen Ando in weightlifting, Shania Mae Mendoza and Janelle Frayna in team chess and Carlo Von Buminaang in vovinam.
Bagging bronze medals were Ma. Jeanalane Lopez and Lean Jhane Lopez in Judo, Rudzma Abubakar and April Joy La Madrid in Muay, Emmanuel Garcia and Daniel Quizon in team chess, national karate women’s team and national women’s football team./PN
