Hosted by Malaysia, the 29^th Southeast Asian Games is a multi-sport event held this year from August 19-30, 2017 at Kuala Lumpur. The SEA Games 2017, also branded Kuala Lumpur 2017, is participated by 11 Southeast Asian countries. The hundreds of matches essentially are of course for building camaraderie and strengthening ties but at the end of the day it’s still a game and the count for gold, silver, and bronze is still of the utmost importance.

We’re almost at the last days of the Games and the Philippine team is still making us proud. Here are 8 of the thrilling gold medal wins we have so far!

1. Men’s 400-meter Hurdles

Eric Cray championed the men’s 400m hurdles and secured the gold medal with an official time of 50.03. He bested Vietnamese Quach Cong Lich’s 50.05 and Indonesia’s Andrian with 51.52.

2. 200-meter Dash and 400-meter Sprint

Anthony Beram was the fastest man at the 200m dash winning a gold medal for the Philippines. He defeated seven others with the official time of 20.84 seconds.

It wasn’t the only game he won a gold medal for. Beram proves he is the fastest man when he also emerged victorious from the men’s 400m run clocking in at 46.39 seconds. Second placer Phitchaya Sunthonthuam of Thailand came in at 46.46 and third placer Vietnamese Quach Cong Lich at 46.48.

3. Fencing

It was a sure win for the Philippine fencing team when Brennan Louie and fellow countryman Nathaniel Perez finished gold-silver in the individual foil finals.  The fencers finished 15-14 with Louie besting Perez. Overall, the team hauled 1 gold medal, 2 silvers, and 1 bronze.

4. Triathlon

The fencing team wasn’t the only ones to boast of a gold-silver winning. Four triathletes from the Philippine team ruled the triathlon and added two gold medals and two silver medals to the pile.

Nikko Bryan Huelgas and John Chicano won the men’s title gold and silver respectively. Huelgas secured the gold with the official time of 1:59:30 and Chicano registered at 02:01:27.

At the women’s triathlon moments later, Kim Mangrobang and Claire Adorna claimed the gold and silver medals respectively switching places from the previous SEA Games in 2015 where Adorna was the champion and Mangrobang finished second.

5. Artistic Gymnastics

Reyland Capellan secured the fourth gold medal for the Philippines when he won the men’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise. He finished with 13.950 points defeating Malaysia’s Zul Bahrin Bin Mat Asri and Thailand’s Tikumporn Suritornta with 13.750 and 13.6700 respectively.

In the previous SEA Games in 2015, Capellan was the only Filipino to win gold for the gymnastics floor event.

17-year-old Kaitlin De Guzman likewise won the fifth Philippine gold medal for the women’s artistic gymnastics uneven bars. She scored 12.875 followed by Malaysia’s 12.550 and Indonesia’s 12.075.

6. Boxing

John Marvin mid-fight against Malaysian Adli Hafidz at the 2017 Southeast Asian games Men’s light-heavyweight boxing finals

Two gold medals for the boxing team this year! Middleweight class Eumir Marcial beat Pathomsak Kuttiya from Thailand, securing another gold medal for the country. This isn’t surprising as Marcial has also scored gold as the top boxer in the welterweight division in the 2015 Singapore Games.

John Marvin also won the gold against Malaysian Adli Hafidz Mohd Pauzi in the light heavyweight class. The fight ended after 21 seconds in a stopped action made by the referee.

7. Lawn Bowl

The Philippines bagged the gold medal for lawn bowl 10 years after the first time we joined the tournament. The quartet of Emmanuel Portacio, Ronald Lising, Leoncio Carreon Jr., and Curte Robert Guari bagged the gold defeating the host country’s team 16-14.

The Philippine lawn bowl team in the 2007 SEA Games won a silver medal and three bronze medals.

8. Ice Hockey

For a country that has never experienced winter and where ice skating is only possible at SM mall rinks, we now proudly hold the rights of being called the first SEA Games champion in ice hockey. The Philippine team defeated Thailand 5-4 in a suspense battle sealing the country’s 15^th gold medal. Even though team captain John Steven Fuglister wasn’t able to play due to suspension for rough play (in a different game against Malaysia), the team started strong, scoring two points in the first 14 minutes.

Ice hockey is one of the 4 news sports added to the 2017 Sea Games along with figure skating, speed skating, and cricket.

As of 12nn, Friday, the Philippines have collected 15 gold medals, 18 silvers, and 32 bronzes. We’re at the sixth place with the host country Malaysia remaining on the top spot at 62-45-36.

The pride in knowing that our athletes are out there winning and making a name for themselves can’t be compared to anything (well that is unless we budge from the sixth spot). To all the Philippine athletes out there know that we are all proud of you and will be cheering for all of you until the end!

How proud are you of the Philippine team? Share it with us in the comments below!