Ilonggo athletes made an emphatic performance in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after contributing medals for the Philippines.

Giving pride to the country and to the Ilonggo community, Ilonggo Robin Catalan ruled kun bokator at the Chroy Changvar Convention Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Iloilo City native who is a mixed martial artist by trade captured the gold medal in men’s combat minus-50 event after defeating Indonesian Ade Permana in the finals.

Ilongga biker Ariana Evangelista also finished with a silver and bronze medal at the Kulen Mountain in Siem Reap.

She played superb as she ranked second in the MTB Cross-Country Eliminator (XCE) behind gold medalists Dara Latifah from Indonesia

Ilongga boxer Irish Magno is also assured of a silver medal and advances to the finals after eliminating Novita Sinadia of Indonesia in the semis of the women’s bantamweight (54kg)

The native of Janiuay, Iloilo won via unanimous decision and will try to add another gold medal for the Philippines in the prestigious sporting events.

Meanwhile, the Philippines secured kun bokator silver medals from Mariane Mariano (women’s combat 55kg), Kylie Mallari (women’s combat 50kg), Ariel Lampacan (men’s combat 55kg) and Geli Bulaong (women’s combat 60kg).

Capturing bronze in kun bokator were Mitz Jalandoni (women’s singles phkak form), Godwin Langbayan (men’s comba 65kg), Ryan Jakiri (men’s combat 65kg), women’s bare hands form trio and men’s bare hands form trio.

Gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo kept his individual all-around gold after tallying 84.00 points on floor exercise (14.350), vault (15.00), parallel bars (14.00), rings (14.150), pommel horse (12.650) and high bar (12.90).

Yulo, along with Juan Miguel Besana, Jan Gwyn Timbang and John Ivan Cruz, ended with a silver medal in team event as they combined for 302.50 points behind gold medal winner Vietnam.

Ernest John “EJ” Obiena also won his third SEA Games men’s pole vault gold medal with his 5.65-meter leap, erasing the previous biennial games record of 5.46 meters that he set in Hanoi, Vietnam last year.

The quartet of Robyn Brown, Umajesty William, Mico Del Prado and Jessel Lumapas, meanwhile, captured an athletics bronze medal in the mixed 4×400 meter relay event.

Xiandi Chua delivered the country’s first swimming gold medal in Cambodia as she ruled the 200m backstroke event in 2:13.20. Chloe Isleta ended with silver medal with her 2:16.19 time. Jasmine Alkhaldi also had a silver in women’s 100-meter freestyle.

In windsurfing, Andrei Tugade took home a silver medal in men’s junior IQ foil, while Dhenver Castillo (men’s RS:One) and Harord Madrigal (men’s IQ foil) contributed bronze medal each.

Bacolodnon cue master Johann Chua kissed his gold medal-retention bid in men’s 9-ball event goodbye after a heartbreaking 9-8 defeat to Myanmar’s Maung Maung Phone Myint Kyaw.IMT Sports