EJ Obiena hopeful for future of Philippine athletics after stellar SEA Games campaign

Philippine pole vault star EJ Obiena capped off a standout Southeast Asian Games campaign by winning his fourth consecutive gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the 33rd SEA Games on Tuesday.

Obiena cleared 5.70 meters on his first attempt at the Suphachalasai National Stadium, a new SEA Games record, edging out Thailand’s Amsam-ang Patsapong, who matched the height but needed all three attempts to clear it. 

Obiena’s victory was a high point in a strong overall performance by the Philippine track and field squad. Team Philippines finished the athletics competitions with five gold, seven silver, and 19 bronze medals, marking one of the nation’s most successful outings in recent SEA Games history.

“We win some, we lose some, but we definitely learn from it. We have many rising stars, and the future of Philippine athletics looks promising,” Obiena said.

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🇵🇭🥇🥉𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆

✅Tough task done: EJ Obiena and Elijah Cole displayed Philippine domination in Men’s Pole Vault at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games – finishing gold and bronze, respectively. pic.twitter.com/LcQolntJkv

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) December 16, 2025

Beyond Obiena’s signature triumph, other Filipino athletes also shined. John Christopher Cabang set a new competition record to win the men’s 110-meter hurdles, while Hokett Delos Santos dominated the decathlon. 

Middle-distance runners Hussein Loraña and Naomi Marjorie Cesar added to the gold medal haul with victories in their respective 800-meter events.

Fellow Filipino vaulter Elijah Kevin Cole delivered a bronze medal in pole vault, giving the Philippines two athletes on the podium in the event.

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