Justin Kobe Macario went out of his comfort zone with the national team and netted the country’s first gold medal from the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand.
BANGKOK – Poomsae’s Justin Kobe Macario never really wanted the spotlight, but when he became the Philippines’ first gold medalist in the SEA Games 2025 here on Wednesday, all eyes were on him.
Competing in his first ever individual event in the SEA Games, Macario admitted there was some nerves when he first found out that he would be taking on the challenge by himself.
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But when all was said and done, the decision to take on the new endeavor ended up with him setting the tone for Team Philippines' gold medal rally in the biennial event.
Performing last in the Men’s Freestyle Poomsae, Macario blew the competition away with his routine – finishing with a score of 8.200.
“Nong una pong in-announce yung line-up namin, kinabahan po ako kasi hindi ako sanay sa SEA Games (individual), puro team po yung mga past SEA games ko po,” said Macario in an interview with POC Media.
“Grinab ko po itong opportunity na to para maglaro and i-represent po yung country po.”
Macario’s gold was a quick follow up to the country’s first medal, a bronze from John Derick Farr in the men’s downhill competition over in Chonburri.
Deeper motivation
At the end of the day, Macario’s anxieties were set aside when he decided to take on the individual event for the first time in his SEA Games career.
For him, even if the court only saw him standing there physically, he was still fighting for something bigger than himself – his teammates, his family, and his country, and when it mattered, he wasn’t really alone.
“Sobrang iba po kasi [ng group and individual]. Sa court may makikita ka, mga kasama mo, ganun, kanina mag-isa ka lang, ganun,” said Macario.
“[Pero inisip ko na lang] sige, hindi lang para sa akin to, para sa country, sa lahat ng mga sumuporta po sa amin. Yun po yung mindset ko,” he added.
Apart from his gold, Macario also won a bronze medal in the mixed freestyle poomsae team event along with Darius Venerable, Jesus Gabriel Derick Yape, Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, and Janna Dominique Olivia.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.