By el Amigo
MANILA — They did not get eight golds. But Philippine sports officials insist the numbers show Team Philippines had the ammunition to get there.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino defended the pre-Games projection after the country ended the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with four gold, nine silver and 16 bronze medals for a total of 29. The haul was the Philippines’ best in more than six decades.
“I can say na hindi ko pwedeng ikahiya na kaya talaga ’yong eight. I can explain it sa mga magtatanong diyan, ‘Nasaan na ’yung eight?’ Yes, it was eight. Doon lang tayo pipitas sa silver [at] pitas ng isa sa bronze… pitas lang para maging eight.” (I can say that I have nothing to be ashamed of because we really were capable of getting eight. I can explain it to those who will ask, ‘Where is the eight?’ Yes, it was eight. We only needed to pick from the silver medals and one from the bronze… just enough to make it eight.) Tolentino said.
The four golds came from two-time Olympic champion Carlos Yulo, who ruled the artistic gymnastics floor exercise and vault; pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, who retained his title with an Asian Games-record 5.91-meter clearance; and taekwondo jin Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, who won the inaugural mixed individual virtual event.
But it was the silver and bronze medals that gave Tolentino his strongest argument.
Nine athletes and teams finished second: Jean Claude Saclag in MMA men’s traditional -65kg; Kacey Dela Rosa, Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka and Maria Pasilang of Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3; Nelly Jay Salon, Jean Marie Sucalit and Abegail Sinogbuhan in women’s doubles sepak takraw; Amaya Amparo Cojuangco in women’s individual compound archery; Juliana Mykhail Candelaria in taekwondo women’s individual poomsae; Carlo Paalam in boxing men’s 55kg; Tachiana Mangin in taekwondo women’s -49kg; Kurt Barbosa in taekwondo men’s -58kg; and Alexandria Enriquez in jiu-jitsu women’s -63kg.
Paalam’s silver was particularly painful. The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist lost to Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi by split decision, leaving the Philippines still waiting for its next Asian Games boxing champion after its last gold in 2010.
The 16 bronzes came from athletes and teams across a remarkable range of disciplines.
Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Christy Sañosa, Shyryn Salazar and Hilary Paas won bronze in women’s team soft tennis. Carlos Alvarez did the same in MMA men’s traditional -77kg.
Karate medalists were Samantha Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante and Rebecca Torres in women’s team kata, and Marie June Adriano in women’s individual kumite.
Karl Eldrew Yulo added a gymnastics bronze in the horizontal bar, while Albert Ian Delos Santos placed third in weightlifting’s men’s 70kg.
SIBOL won two esports bronzes, one in Pokémon UNITE and another in Honor of Kings.
Athletes John Cabang Tolentino and Victoria Bossong won bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles and women’s 800m, respectively.
Jayuard Alciso was third in men’s shortboard surfing, while tennis star Alexandra Eala secured bronze in women’s singles.
Yape collected another medal with bronze in men’s individual poomsae, while beach volleyball pair Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara also finished third. The men’s sepak takraw regu team completed the bronze-medal list.
Gregorio, meanwhile, urged the public to look beyond the color of the medal.
“Bronze is also gold,” he said.
The PSC chief pointed to Eala’s decision to represent the Philippines despite the consequences of missing a WTA event and expressed optimism over the number of young athletes emerging from the Nagoya campaign.
“That’s sports, but to all, ang mensahe ko, I’m very happy po ako, nakita ko ang age group, nakita ko mga bata, very promising.” (That’s sports, but to everyone, my message is that I’m very happy. I saw the age groups, I saw the young athletes, and they are very promising.) Gregorio said.
The eight-gold target is now history.
The bigger question is whether the 29 medals—and the athletes behind them—can become the foundation for something bigger when the next major target arrives: Los Angeles 2028.
