Unlike in 2019, when he won silver alongside his father Apol, Justine Rosales competed on his own at the 2025 SEA Games—and this time, he got the job done with the RP Blu Boys in men’s softball.
Six years ago, a young Justine Rosales shared a special moment with his father, RP Blu Boys legend Apol Rosales, as the duo claimed silver in the SEA Games on home soil.
Fast forward to 2025, and Justine stood alone—but finally savored the golden ending he had long chased.
The Philippines reclaimed the men’s softball crown at the 33rd SEA Games with a 3-0 win over former champion Singapore on Thursday, December 17, at Queen Sirikit Stadium in Thailand.
Rosales set the tone early, blasting a solid homer deep into centerfield in the first inning to give the Blu Boys a 1-0 lead.
Lyonas De Leon extended the advantage in the fourth, singling to right-center that allowed Rustom Cantos to score, while Denmark Bathan crossed the home plate after a throwing error by Singapore.
The victory marked the Blu Boys’ ninth SEA Games gold and their first since 2015, ending a six-year wait after Singapore claimed the 2019 title.
Softball was absent from the 2021 and 2023 editions in Vietnam and Cambodia — making this triumph even sweeter.
Six years in the making
Rosales was only 16 when he shared the field with his 42-year-old father, but the silver-medal finish back then left a bittersweet taste.
This time, the story was different.
"Ma, Pa, champion [po ako]. Gold medal. Sa wakas," Justine told Cignal’s Doreen Suaybaguio.
"Ngayong taon sobrang saya po kasi last 2019, kasama ko po ‘yung papa ko sa team. Siya rin po yung ginawa kong inspirasyon para mabalik po ‘yung gold medal sa Pilipinas."
Rising to the occasion
The gold-medal match also served as a chance for redemption, as Singapore had defeated the Philippines 7-3 earlier in the tournament.
For head coach Jasper Cabrera, the message to his players was clear—reclaim regional supremacy.
"Laging paulit-ulit na sinasabi namin, ‘kailangan namin matalo yung Singapore para kami yung maghari sa Southeast Asia.’ Deserve talaga, and proud ako sa mga boys natin," Cabrera said.
He added: "Finally, nakuha na namin yung gold. Lahat ng sakripisyo, paggising nang maaga… pinag-usapan namin na hindi tayo pwedeng bumalik sa Pilipinas na hindi natin dala ang ginto."
After six long years, the Philippines is back at the summit of Southeast Asian softball.
(With reports from Doreen Suaybaguio)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.