Team Philippines SEA Games Update: Gold runs, near misses, and history still in play

Team Philippines’ campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games keeps expanding in both reach and significance, as familiar powers delivered gold while emerging programs carved out history of their own.

A new milestone arrived on the ice.

The Philippine women’s ice hockey team booked a spot in the first-ever SEA Games women’s ice hockey final after overpowering Singapore, 6–2, in the semifinals at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena. The breakthrough did not come easily. Locked in a tense battle deep into the third period, the Filipinas found themselves tied at 2-all after Kiarra Chin equalized at the 55:04 mark.

That moment, however, sparked a decisive surge. Jasmin Alcido and team captain Bianca Cuevas struck in quick succession within a two-minute window, swinging the momentum firmly in the Philippines’ favor. By the 57th minute, the Filipinas had opened a 4–2 cushion, before pulling away late to secure a commanding win and guarantee at least a silver medal in a historic debut final.

While history was being written on the ice, dominance continued elsewhere.

The SIBOL Men’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team once again stamped its authority on the region, completing a historic four-peat with a commanding 4–0 sweep of Malaysia in the grand finals. 

Since MLBB’s introduction as a medal sport in 2019, the Philippines has remained unbeaten, and this latest run was arguably its most convincing. SIBOL dropped just one game the entire tournament, conceding it in the semifinals against Indonesia before cruising past Malaysia with clinical efficiency in the finals.

Gold also arrived from the triathlon course, where the Philippines delivered a rare double. Kira Ellis, Kim Mangrobang, and Raven Alcoseba captured the women’s team gold in 1:10.14, finishing well clear of Indonesia. 

Moments later, Aki Lorbes, Matthew Hermosa, and Fer Casares followed with gold in the men’s event, edging Singapore by 10 seconds to underline the country’s growing strength in endurance sports.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

UNSTOPPABLE

The SIBOL MLBB men’s national team is not letting go of the country’s SEA Games title anytime soon, completing a four-peat in Bangkok and sweeping the entire event. | POC Medial Pool#2025SEAGames #TibayAtTatag #SEAGames33 #SEAGamesThailand #SEAGames2025 pic.twitter.com/uFpGL2QHJa

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 17, 2025

GOLD AS ICE!

The Philippines shoots its way into the gold medal match of the first-ever tournament for women’s ice hockey at the SEA Games 2025.#SEAGames33 #SEAGamesThailand #SEAGames2025 #TibayAtTataghttps://t.co/lZgkraOiRN

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 17, 2025

SPEEDING TO GOLD

Kira Ellis, Fernando Jose Casares, Andrew Kim Remolino, and Raven Faith Alcoseba show their strength and speed, capturing another gold for the Philippine triathlon team in the Mixed Team Relay at the SEA Games 2025 Thailand.#2025SEAGames #SEAGames pic.twitter.com/60XGfGYn9L

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 17, 2025

Beyond those highlights, the medal haul continued to grow across disciplines. EJ Obiena spearheaded a four-gold day for the Philippines, joined by Paris Olympian Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon in rowing’s women’s double sculls, Zyra Bon-as in women’s 48kg low kick kickboxing, and Jasmine Althea Ramilo in rhythmic gymnastics all-around. Silver and bronze finishes in athletics, fencing, rowing, and kickboxing further padded the tally.

Not all battles ended in gold. Alex Eala and Niño Alcantara bowed to the Thai pair in the mixed doubles semifinals, settling for another bronze after a tightly contested match decided in a super tiebreak. 

Eala, however, remains in contention for her biggest SEA Games prize, advancing in the women’s singles where she stands as the highest-ranked player left in the field.

As of the end of Day 7, the Philippines remained in sixth place in the overall standings with 29 golds, 45 silvers, and 94 bronzes, locked in a close race with Malaysia in the middle of the table. Thailand continues to lead the medal count, followed by Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Still, the most anticipated moment is yet to come.

The Philippine women’s football team is set for the biggest match in its SEA Games history, facing Vietnam in the gold medal game after a dramatic semifinal win over host Thailand. Already assured of the country’s best-ever finish in the event, the Filipinas now have a chance to turn a breakthrough run into a defining moment for Team Philippines in this edition of the Games.

As competition intensifies, the Philippine campaign is shaping up not just as a numbers game, but as a showcase of sustained excellence, rising programs, and one more historic chapter waiting to be written.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!