PSC targets more ice rinks following strong showing of PH skating team in SEA Games

The Philippines closed out the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand on a strong note, finishing sixth overall with 50 gold medals, 73 silvers, and 154 bronzes for a total haul of 277 medals.

Among the standout performers was Team Philippines’ skating contingent, which delivered an impressive six-medal campaign. The group secured one gold in short track speed skating, two silvers in women’s figure skating, and another silver in women’s ice hockey, along with additional podium finishes that highlighted the country’s growing competitiveness in ice sports.

In the wake of the program’s success, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) expressed enthusiasm about expanding training opportunities by increasing the number of ice skating facilities nationwide.

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“It’s a pleasant surprise to see the Philippines and the national team, winning medals in a sport or sports na hindi naman pang-tropical country. That is the beauty of sports diba? In Thailand they are very good in ice sports because they have eleven skating rinks and we have three. That’s why I was talking with chairman Hans Sy, I said we need eight more. Pag nangyari yan, we can win more medals,” PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio said in a media interaction.

ICE, ICE, GREATNESS ⛸️🏒

The Philippine Skating Union holds a Day of Champions event to celebrate the national athletes who bagged medals in ice skating, speed skating, and ice hockey at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. | via Maureen Muarip/One Sports#2025SEAGames #TibayAtTatag pic.twitter.com/Bj68WApP37

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) January 11, 2026

Gregorio emphasized that better accessibility and infrastructure would be key to sustaining the country’s progress.

“Number one is facilities and the opportunity to practice this sport all over the country. They have one in Cebu, we have two here. Maybe three more here, then put up one in Mindanao. I checked — it’s not so expensive anymore because of technology. Kung lagyan mo ng ice skating rink yung mga bayan natin all over the country, then people will play. It’s a beautiful sport,” he added.

Leaders from the national men’s and women’s ice hockey teams welcomed the PSC’s plans, noting that improved facility access would directly boost athlete development and participation.

“I think it would really help the game, not just hockey. We are talking figure skating, speed skating. It would help so much if we could train on a more regular basis because like we have to train after mall hours. It would help us and the growth of the game,” said men’s team captain Steven Fuglister.

“Imagine three sports where we just share one rink. It would really be huge for the development of all of our sports to have even just one more or two more ice rinks,” added women’s captain Bianca Cuevas.

With momentum from their SEA Games success, the country’s ice sports athletes are now gearing up for several international tournaments, including the Ice Hockey World Championships and the ISU Four Continents Championships.

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