TOP ACHIEVER. Two-time world champion Carlos Yulo shows his winning form to win the parallel bars gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 9, 2023. The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) on Thursday (June 22) announced its top achievers for May led by Yulo. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) on Thursday announced its top achievers for the month of May led by world champion gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo.
Yulo delivered two gold and two silver medals for the gymnastics team, which also won two bronze medals, in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games held from May 5 to 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Philippine contingent won 58 golds, 85 silvers and 117 bronzes to surpass its 52-70-105 haul in Vietnam last year, but remained fifth overall.
The other medalists were from arnis (6-2-4), taekwondo (6-1-8), athletics (4-10-8), wrestling (4-7-5), boxing (4-5-1), and obstacle course race (4-2-0).
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, currently world No. 3, won his third consecutive SEAG gold medal with a new Games mark of 5.65 meters.
Mark Julius Rodelas (25.092 seconds) and Precious Cabuya (32.732 seconds) set World Obstacle and Guinness World Records, while the men’s team of Jose Mari de Castro Jr, Mervin Guarte, Elias Tabac and Aghie Radem (24.479) and women's team of Milky Mae Tejares, Marites Nocyao, Sandi Menchi Abayan and Mecca Cortizano (33.733) also established world records.
In weightlifting, Elreen Ando registered 98kgs (snatch), 118kgs (clean and jerk) and 216 kgs (total) to claim the gold medal in the women's 59kg category. Vanessa Sarno, on the other hand, won her second SEAG gold medal in the 71kg category with a total lift of 225 kgs, highlighted with a record snatch of 105 kgs.
In swimming, Xiandi Chua won the women’s 200m backstroke gold medal in a record 2:13.20 while Teia Salvino set a new Philippine record of 1:01.64 on her way to winning the 100m backstroke event.
Gilas Pilipinas re-claimed the men’s basketball title after posting an 80-69 win against host Cambodia in the final. (PNA)
