John Cabang Tolentino sets new SEA Games record to highlight strong day for PH

CHONBURI, Thailand – John Cabang Tolentino broke a long-standing Southeast Asian Games record in athletics to highlight a stellar day that saw the Philippines more than double its golden haul.

Tolentino set a new SEA Games record as he ruled the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 13.66 seconds at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok on Friday, December 12.

A 2024 Paris Olympian, Tolentino shattered the previous SEA Games mark of 13.69 seconds set by Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet in the 2015 edition to add to the Philippines’ gold tally that grew from five the day prior to 11.

The 24-year-old also improved his bronze finish in 2023 in Cambodia as he dethroned Singapore’s Ang Chen Xiang, who established a personal-best of 13.75 seconds but still settled for the silver.

“For me, it is an honor to raise the flag on the top of the podium for the Philippines,” said Tolentino. “I’m super happy.”

It was not just Tolentino who shone in athletics as Hokett delos Santos topped the men’s decathlon for the Philippines’ last gold medal of the day.

Delos Santos, the reigning UAAP athletics MVP for the University of Santo Tomas, garnered 6,917 points to deny home bet Suttisak Singkhon of a three-peat, with the Thai getting silver after totaling 6,649 points.

The Philippines’ other gold medals on Friday were delivered by the men’s baseball team, taekwondo jin Tachiana Mangin, gymnast John Ivan Cruz, and swimmer Kayla Sanchez.

So far, securing 11 golds, 16 silvers, and 35 bronzes, the Philippines sits at fifth in the medal tally behind overwhelming leader Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, with eight days of competition to go. – Rappler.com