The Philippines won five more gold medals in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games on Monday, May 8, in Cambodia.
Fernando Casares started the gold medal rush after defending his title in the men's triathlon event.
Casares clocked in 58 minutes and 32 seconds to rule the event held at the Kep Town Beach, while his fellow Filipino athlete Andrew Kim Remolino snagged the bronze medal with a time of 59 minutes and 53 seconds.
Rashif Amila Yaqin of Indonesia registered a time of 58 minutes and 45 seconds to seize the silver medal.
Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo also defended his title in the men's individual all-around event of the SEA Games.
The two-time World Champion garnered a score of 84.000 to bag another gold medal for the Philippines.
Since 2019, the 23-year-old gymnast has ruled the said event in the SEA Games.
Vietnamese pair Lê Thanh Tùng and Đinh Phương Thành bagged the silver and bronze medals, respectively, after registering a score of 80.450 and 78.150.
Earlier on Monday, Yulo also helped the Philippines win the silver medal in the men's gymnast all-around team event alongside fellow Filipino gymnasts Ivan Cruz, Jan Timbang, Justine de Leon, Juancho Besana, and Jhon Santillan.
Robin Catalan, meanwhile, ruled the men's kun bokator combat 50-kilogram event.
Catalan bagged the second gold medal of the Philippines in kun bokator, Cambodian martial arts, after defeating Ade Permana of Indonesia, 3-0, in the finals held at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center.
Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena also contributed to the gold medal haul of the Philippines.
Amidst the rain, Obiena, an Asian record-holder, cleared 5.65 meters to rule the men's pole vault event for a third straight SEA Games and set a new record in the biennial multi-sports event.
Obiena set the previous record, 5.46 meters.
Kasinpob Chomchanad of Thailand won the silver medal and Pataspon Amsarng snagged the bronze medal in the event held at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Xiandi Chua also set a new SEA Games record and won the first gold medal of the Philippines in swimming after clocking in two minutes and 13.20 seconds in the women's 200 meters backstroke event.
Fellow Filipina swimmer Chloe Isleta won the silver medal with a time of two minutes and 16.19 seconds, while Fonpay Yamsuan clocked in two minutes and 17.95 seconds to place third.
