Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines scored 3 gold medals in Day 2 of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos. Team Philippine also got 4 silver and 1 bronze medals in the second day of the competitions.

Filipino jins, led by 2007 SEA Games silver medalist Mary Antoinette Rivero, hauled 2 gold medals during Thursday's events at the Booyong Gymnasium. National University Center.

According to the SEAG Website, Rivero defeated Nguyen Thi Duong in the finals of the women's welterweight division (over 62 kilograms).

Alexander Briones also won the gold in the men's heavyweight division (over 87 kgs.) by beating Sorn Elit of Cambodia.

Kristie Alora, meanwhile, settled for silver in the women's heavyweight division (over 73 kgs.) after bowing to Thai jin Rapatkorn Prasopsuk.

Marlon Avenido also finished second in the men's welterweight division (over 74 kgs) after yielding to Luong Minh Dat .

Earlier, the trio of Carla Lagman, Rani Ann Ortega and Francesca Alarilla scored a gold medal in the Women's Team Poomsae in this year's SEA Games.

Filipino tanker Miguel Molina, who won 4 gold medals during the 2007 SEA Games to emerge as the Best Male Athlete of the meet, scored a gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the National Sports Complex.

Molina also teamed with Jessie Khing Lacuna, Robert Walsh and Charles Walker for a second-place finish in the 4x200m medley relay.

Ryan Arabejo, meanwhile, won silver in the 200m backstroke.

Karatedo Noel Espinosa also won a bronze medal for the Philippines in individual kata.

The Philippines is currently ranked 5th in the medal tally with 4 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals.

The Philippines is looking to improve its 6th place finish in the 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand SEA Games where it hauled 41 gold, 91 silver and 96 bronze medals.

• ABS-CBN