MANILA, Philippines – With just a few days left until the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) closing, the host country, Philippines, is set to be declared as the overall champion.
UPDATE: OFFICIAL: Philippines bags overall championship in SEA Games 2019
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chair Steve Hontiveros shared the good news claiming the country’s win as it remains to be the frontrunner in the medals tally. As of December 8, 11:30 a.m., Philippines has 89 gold medals, 67 silver and 70 bronze, to a total of 226 medals.
With its wide lead from second place, Philippines is already assured in the first place with only 3 full days of competition left. The second rank, however, is still a toss up between Indonesia and Vietnam with barely a few medals lead. Currently, Indonesia is ranked second with 51 gold medals, 48 silver and 64 bronze, to a total of 163 medals. Coming in close is Vietnam with 47 gold medals, 52 silver and 65 bronze with a total of 164 medals.
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Hontiveros is confident that the Philippines already got the prize in the bag. He said, “We got this. We are overall champions. Other countries don’t have much left to get gold medals from.”
POC chair added that such accomplishment should encourage the government and even private sector to not think twice in giving support to our Filipino athletes.
Hontiveros said, “This should give interest to the government and the private sector to support all the athletes in all sports because they will realize their money won’t go to waste.”
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Even Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez is already feeling the victory and said that more than the support of the government and from others, the hardwork of the Filipino athletes should be recognized and celebrated.
“Thankful for all the sacrifice and handwork that went behind pushing their chances for a shining moment of victory,” Ramirez said.
In the next three days, more medals are still up for grabs for events such as athletics, boxing, softball, baseball and taekwondo, among others.
SEE ALSO: Philippines' men's volleyball team advances to SEA Games gold medal round
This biennial event would be the second time the Philippines would be awarded as the overall champion. Back in 2005, when the Philippines also hosted the SEA Games, the country topped the sports meet with 113 gold medals. In the next SEA Games in Thailand, Philippines dropped to 6th place with only 41 gold medals. But that performance was still better than in the 2017 SEA Games hosted in Malaysia. The Philippines finished with a meek haul of 23 gold medals, 33 silvers and 64 bronzes, the country’s worst performance in over 18 years.
The closing ceremony of the 2019 SEA Games is set on December 11 (Wednesday) at the athletics stadium in New Clark City.
— Sally, The Summit Express
UPDATE: OFFICIAL: Philippines bags overall championship in SEA Games 2019
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chair Steve Hontiveros shared the good news claiming the country’s win as it remains to be the frontrunner in the medals tally. As of December 8, 11:30 a.m., Philippines has 89 gold medals, 67 silver and 70 bronze, to a total of 226 medals.
 |
| The Philippines maintains wide lead in SEA Games 2019 medal tally | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ 2019 SEA Games |
With its wide lead from second place, Philippines is already assured in the first place with only 3 full days of competition left. The second rank, however, is still a toss up between Indonesia and Vietnam with barely a few medals lead. Currently, Indonesia is ranked second with 51 gold medals, 48 silver and 64 bronze, to a total of 163 medals. Coming in close is Vietnam with 47 gold medals, 52 silver and 65 bronze with a total of 164 medals.
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Hontiveros is confident that the Philippines already got the prize in the bag. He said, “We got this. We are overall champions. Other countries don’t have much left to get gold medals from.”
 |
| Philippines set to win as SEA Games overall champion | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ 2019 SEA Games |
POC chair added that such accomplishment should encourage the government and even private sector to not think twice in giving support to our Filipino athletes.
Hontiveros said, “This should give interest to the government and the private sector to support all the athletes in all sports because they will realize their money won’t go to waste.”
RELATED STORIES
- Kristina Knott sets new SEA Games record, breaks Lydia de Vega's time
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- Amid race for gold, Pinoy surfer saves Indonesian competitor from drowning
Even Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez is already feeling the victory and said that more than the support of the government and from others, the hardwork of the Filipino athletes should be recognized and celebrated.
“Thankful for all the sacrifice and handwork that went behind pushing their chances for a shining moment of victory,” Ramirez said.
In the next three days, more medals are still up for grabs for events such as athletics, boxing, softball, baseball and taekwondo, among others.
SEE ALSO: Philippines' men's volleyball team advances to SEA Games gold medal round
This biennial event would be the second time the Philippines would be awarded as the overall champion. Back in 2005, when the Philippines also hosted the SEA Games, the country topped the sports meet with 113 gold medals. In the next SEA Games in Thailand, Philippines dropped to 6th place with only 41 gold medals. But that performance was still better than in the 2017 SEA Games hosted in Malaysia. The Philippines finished with a meek haul of 23 gold medals, 33 silvers and 64 bronzes, the country’s worst performance in over 18 years.
The closing ceremony of the 2019 SEA Games is set on December 11 (Wednesday) at the athletics stadium in New Clark City.
— Sally, The Summit Express
