Philippine Sports News and Updates

Although the country failed in its quest to win the overall title, the Philippine Team contingent to the 6th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) games was able to match last year’s finish.

In Sunday’s closing rites at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex, young athletes from Puerto Princesa and Mindanao ended up with a decent fifth and sixth place finish in the overall medal tally.

Puerto Princesa hauled five gold, five silver and eight bronze medals while Mindanao plucked four gold, seven silver and four bronze medals for an accumulated medal harvest of 33 for Team Philippines.

Defending champion Sabah, Malaysia finished on top of the standings with a total of 33 gold medals, highlighted by overwhelming victories in team events like sepak takraw and futsal.

South Sulawesi of Indonesia finished in the second spot with 13 gold medals while the hosts was in third place with 12 gold medals.

The RP Nationals closed their campaign with Floredeliza Donos collecting her third gold medal.

The 21-year-old Donos powered her teammates to an amazing mark of 4.29.24, edging Brunei A (4.29.70) and powerhouse Sabah, Malaysia (4.34.29) to emerge as the top overall performer for Team Philippines.

Apart from Donos, Jeron Mercader of Puerto Princesa also plucked his second gold medal, dominating the boys' 100m breaststroke in a stunning fashion.

Mercader, a former Palawan National High School standout, chalked 1:02.78, leaving his counterparts from Sabah, Malaysia (1:04.40) and Brunei A (1:07.17) struggling for form.
 
The last time the Filipinos tasted the glory of an overall title was in 2003 when Mindanao romped with an emphatic 21-gold medal haul.

- abs-cbnNEWS