Philippines on track to finish third overall in SEA Games

May 18, 2022 Philippines Sports

Halfway through the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, national team chef de mission Ramon Fernandez was guardedly optimistic that if the trend continues, the county would hit its goal of finishing third overall in the medal standings.

“We are halfway through the Games, and we are in the top three of the medal standings, thank God. We are well within our target of finishing at least third overall. We just have to maintain our performance until the end,” Fer-nandez noted on Tuesday.

Despite limited resources and training that was hampered by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic back home, the Filipino campaigners were putting up a gallant stand, delivering their biggest haul thus far the other day of 10 gold medals.

They were in the third spot with a tally of 30 golds, 34 silvers, and 50 bronzes as of Monday night, within striking distance of No. 2 Thailand (34-35-50), while host Vietnam continued to be out of reach at the top (83-50-55).

Dancesports and gymnastics accounted for more than half of the outputs on Monday with four and three mints, respectively, with the pair of Jean Mischa Aranar and Ana Nualla, completing a golden treble in tango, Viennese waltz, and all final dance standards at the Long Bien Gymnasium.