Team Philippines shone in para swimming and para athletics once again in Day 2 of the ASEAN Para Games. But this time, eight para athletes broke meet records.
The Philippines added seven more gold medals from para swimming and para athletics in Day 2 of the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, while eight athletes broke meet records.
In para swimming,
Gary Bejino picked up his second gold medal in this 13th Para Games by winning the men's 200m freestyle S6 with a time of 2:37.21. He reset his own Para Games record of 2:38.55 set in 2023.
Fellow Paralympian Ernie Gawilan added another medal of his own, his eleventh Para Games gold overall, by ruling the 200m freestyle S7 event with a time of 2:26.08.
That is 26.03 seconds faster than the 2001 record of 2:52:11.
Ariel Joseph Alegarbes joined the gold rush with a victory in the men's 100m backstroke S14 with a time of 1:02.52, just 0.26 of a second faster than his Thai opponent.
Paralympian Angel Otom added a second gold medal in her Thailand meet, finishing the 100m freestyle S4-S5 with a time of 1:41.44. She was ahead by 9.28 seconds.
Over in para athletics, the Philippines won three gold medals while five broke meet records.
King James Reyes set a new Para Games record time of 4:17.93 in the men's 1500m T46 event, eclipsing the 4:24.22 set by Malaysia in 2023 Cambodia.
Cyril Ongcoy also set a new meet record in the men's 1500m T12, finishing with a time of 4:26.32. The previous record was 4:47.25 in 2022 Indonesia.
Alyana Nunez is a double medalist in her first Para Games, first clinching bronze in the women's long jump T11 before getting gold in the women's discus throw F11. She threw it at a distance of 25.24 meters, breaking the 22.94 set by Brunei in 2023.
Aside from the gold medalists, 52-year-old Evaristo Carbonel also broke his own record of 25.67 set in Cambodia in the men's discus throw F11. He threw it at a distance of 26.33 meters, good enough for silver.
Malaysia won gold with 28.92.
A day after winning gold in shot put and setting a new Games Record, Cendy Asusano broke meet records again--this time in discus throw F54.
She threw it at a distance of 14.90 meters, enough to break the 14.43 record set in 2023.
It was good for silver, as Vietnam clinched gold with 15.30.
OTHER SILVER MEDALISTS
-
Gary Bejino: Swimming - Men's 50m butterfly S6
- Marco Tinamisan: Swimming - Men's 200m freestyle S3-S4
- Arvie John Arreglado: Para athletics - Men's 100m T47
- Rocky Logron: Para athletics - Men's shot put F40
- Patrick Gerard Lee: Para cycling: Men's road race C3-C5
- Jules Empizo: Para powerlifting - Men's 59kg
BRONZE MEDALISTS
- Roland Sabido: Swimming - Men's 200m freestyle S8-S9
- Jan Jyro Palermo: Para athletics - Men's 400m T20
-
Joel Balatucan: Para athletics - Men's javelin F55
- Marlyn Garrucho: Para fencing - Women's individual epee A
- Kendews Granaderos: Para judo - Men's individual J1 -64 kg
- Achelle Guion: Para powerlifting - Women's 45kg and 50kg
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | Philippines at 13th ASEAN Para Games]
(With reports from Denisse Valdesancho/Cignal)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.