SEA Games: Jins, tracksters deliver medals for Team Pilipinas

The Philippine taekwando team had a solid outing at the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, garnering the most number gold medals for the country with four. They also took home three silver and five bronze medals for a total of 12. "It was our goal and thank God we were able to deliver. Could have been better but the breaks did not go our way," said national taekwando coach Rocky Samson. Along with the taekwando team, the athletics contingent was also successful, gathering a total of 16 medals including two golds. Deputy chief of mission Romeo Magat, however, insisted that the 34-man athletics contingent needed to perform better. "It is clear that the SEAG is a tournament for future Olympians and not an exposure tournament. There is a need for us to keep pace. Kung dito pa lang hirap na tayo paano na ang pag-qualify sa Olympics," said Magat. A pair of medals from both wrestling and billiards, along with one gold each from rowing, bowling, bridge, sport climbing and fencing give the Philippines a total of 15 gold medals as of 5:09 p.m. Wednesday. Host country Indonesia continues with its strong showing, with a total of 83 medals. Vietnam is second with 52 while Thailand came in third with 52. Singapore and Malaysia are curently tied for fourth place with 25 golds apiece. The Philippines, with 15 gold medals, is still ahead of Laos (seventh) with four and Cambodia (eighth) with three. Myanmar, Brunei and Timor Leste have yet to win a gold. — RAF/JVP, GMA News