SEA Games 2025 Team Philippines Update: Justin Macario strikes gold, Derick Farr adds bronze as Gilas 3×3 opens with mixed results

Team Philippines officially entered the medal column of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday, powered by a golden performance from taekwondo standout Kobe Macario, a mountain biking bronze from John Derick Farr, and an eventful opening day for Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Inside the packed Fashion Island Mall, Macario reclaimed the men’s freestyle poomsae individual gold with an impressive 8.200 score, edging Thailand’s Koedkaew Atchariya (8.100) in a tightly contested showdown that briefly hushed the hometown crowd. Malaysia’s Ken Haw (7.740) and Singapore’s Zong Han Darren Yap (7.660) shared the bronze.

For the former University of Santo Tomas jin, the victory was emotional and historic.“Sobrang saya and thankful po kay Lord. Sobrang saya na ako po ‘yung unang nakapagbigay ng unang gold sa Pilipinas,” Macario said, grateful for delivering the Philippines’ first gold medal of the Games.

He also acknowledged the difficulty of outperforming the hosts in their home turf.

“Nahirapan po kasi kalaban po ‘yung host country… Pero tiwala lang po sa pinag-ensayo and binigay ko lang po ang lahat,” he added.

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Justin Kobe Macario powers the Philippines to its first gold medal at the SEA Games 2025 Thailand with a standout performance in the freestyle poomsae event!#SEAGames33 #SEAGames2025 #SEAGamesThailand #TibayAtTatag pic.twitter.com/5wJ1nIo3BA

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 10, 2025

Macario’s triumph reconnects the Philippines with its legacy in freestyle poomsae—a category last won by his coach Joerdan Dominguez in 2019 before Thailand took over in the 2023 SEA Games. Macario now eyes another podium finish later today in the mixed team freestyle event.

On the rugged trails of Thailand, John Derick Farr contributed the country’s second medal of the day, securing bronze in the mountain bike men’s downhill event. Farr clocked 2:43.676 behind Thailand’s Methasit Boonsane (2:37.856) and Indonesia’s Rendy Varera (2:38.714). 

The result marks Farr’s third SEA Games medal, adding to his 2019 gold and 2021 bronze, solidifying his reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most consistent downhill riders.

Meanwhile, over at the Nimibutr Stadium, Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 opened its campaign with mixed results as both the men’s and women’s squads began their group-stage assignments.

The men’s team impressed early, defeating Vietnam 21–15 in a controlled, confident performance that set a positive tone for their Group B journey. 

The women’s team, however, faced a tough start after absorbing a 15–21 loss to Indonesia in their opening match.

While unfortunate, the early setbacks in 3×3 are often not decisive, with fast-paced games and tight group standings capable of shifting momentum quickly. The men’s win, paired with the women’s eagerness to bounce back, mirrors the broader spirit of Team Philippines—resilient, competitive, and far from finished.

With a gold, a bronze, and a mixed but promising start in basketball, the Philippines ends Day 1 of competition with encouraging momentum as more Filipino athletes prepare to take center stage across multiple sports in the coming days. 

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