Philippine skaters gear up for Four Continents Championships after SEA Games success

The Philippines closed out the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, on a strong note, finishing sixth overall in the medal tally with a total of 277 medals: 50 golds, 73 silvers, and 154 bronzes. The country’s athletes displayed grit and determination across a wide range of disciplines, proving that Filipino sports continue to grow in competitiveness at the regional level.

Among the standout performances were those from the country’s skating contingent. Figure skating emerged as a bright spot for Team Philippines, with Maxine Bautista capturing a silver medal and Paolo Borromeo securing the bronze in their respective events. Their podium finishes were a testament to the growing talent and dedication in the Philippine skating scene, signaling that the country is producing skaters capable of making a mark on larger international stages.

Buoyed by the success of Bautista and Borromeo at the SEA Games, Philippine Skating Union chief Nikki Cheng expressed confidence in the team’s prospects at the upcoming Four Continents Championships, which will be held in Beijing, China, from January 21 to 25. The prestigious event is considered one of the major international competitions in figure skating, attracting top athletes from across Asia, the Americas, and Oceania.

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“Right after the Southeast Asian Games, Maxine and Paolo went back home and went straight away to training. The Four Continents Championships is of course a very big event. It’s considered one of the international skating championship events and we are very glad that we have Philippine representatives that qualified to this championships,” Cheng said in a media interaction, highlighting the athletes’ swift transition from regional competition to international preparation.

𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗰𝗲! 🇵🇭⛸️

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio joined the celebration in honoring the ice skating and ice hockey athletes who gave pride and honor for the country at the concluded 33rd Southeast Asian Games pic.twitter.com/TBC8pgBDOs

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) January 13, 2026

The Philippines will send a total of four skaters to Beijing, with Isabella Gamez and Aleksandr Korovin joining the duo of Bautista and Borromeo. While Bautista and Borromeo gained experience at the SEA Games, Gamez and Korovin did not compete in Thailand because the program did not feature the pair skating event. However, Cheng emphasized that their absence from the SEA Games did not indicate a lack of effort or preparation.

“Gamez and Korovin competed in the 2025 Golden Spin in Zagreb, Croatia, last December and finished 13th. That gave them good exposure and preparation for the challenges ahead at Four Continents,” Cheng said, noting the importance of competing against a strong international field to sharpen their skills.

The pair has been training intensively in Russia over the past year, fine-tuning their routines and building consistency in their performances. Cheng highlighted their dedication and discipline, underscoring that the team is entering the Four Continents Championships in peak condition.

“They are currently training in Russia. It’s been a few months or actually for the whole year they were there. And so they are preparing intensely for Four Continents,” Cheng added.

With a mix of regional experience from the SEA Games and international exposure from competitions like the Golden Spin, the Philippines will field a competitive lineup in Beijing. Fans and officials alike will be watching closely, hoping that the country’s skaters can translate their hard work into strong performances on the Four Continents stage, setting the stage for even bigger achievements in the years to come.

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