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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- The country garnered 5 more gold medals in three different events at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos but remained at 6th place in SEAG’s medal tally.

The biggest gold medal haul came from women’s boxing, which gave the Philippines 3 gold medals.

Asian Indoor Games (AIG) gold medalist Annie Albania struck gold in the women’s flyweight division by defeating Indri Sambaimana of Indonesia in the finals held at the Olympasia gymnasium of the National University.

Light flyweight Alice Apparri duplicated the feat by outpunching Laotian Milvady Hongfa in the gold medal round.

Josie Gabuco also scored gold when she vanquished Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Hoa in the finals of the pin weight division.

Athletics also contributed another gold medal through veteran long jumper Marestella Torres.

Torres, who won top place in the 2009 Asian Championships, registered 6.68 meters in the women’s long jump event held at the Main Stadium of the National Sports Complex.

Athletics has so far garnered the Philippines’ highest golden output in this year’s SEAG with 6 gold medals.

Veteran shooter Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla also won top place in the 25-meter rapid fire pistol event at the National Sports Complex.

Padilla, who is competing in the SEAG for the 16th time, scored the gold after garnering a grand total score of 753.20 points.

As of posting time, the Philippines ranked 6th in the medal ranking with 29 gold, 24 silver and 40 bronze medals.

Thailand was in top spot with 61 gold medals followed by Vietnam (57), Indonesia (32), Singapore (32) and Malaysia (29).

Indonesia, Vietnam complete sprint double

Meanwhile, Indonesia and Vietnam each completed a SEAG sprint double.

Indonesia's Suryo Agung Wibowo won the men's 200 metres in 20.85 seconds and Vietnam's Vu Thi Huong clocked 23.31 seconds in the women's race. Both had taken gold in Sunday's 100m races at the National Stadium in the Laos capital.

"Thanks to Allah for giving me a surprise today because my preparations were to focus on the 100m," said Wibowo.

"I hope Allah gives me a third gold tomorrow in the (4x100m) relay," he added, saying he was disappointed that he did not beat his personal best of 20.76.

He said he was unsure whether he would be competing in next year's Asian Games in China as he was planning to go to the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Vu Thi Huong said she had enjoyed running in the cooler conditions in Vientiane and on a new track.

"The weather is good for a quick race. It's not so hot as when I am training in Vietnam and the track is new so that helped me go fast but I regret not breaking my SEA Games record as there was no one to push me."

Thailand's Jamras Rittidet won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.89, shaving 0.02 seconds off the SEA Games record.

"It was my first time in the SEA Games and I'm very happy with the result," he said, adding that he would now focus on the Asian Games.

Indonesia's Dedeh Erawati took the women's 100m hurdles and Singapore's Wong Tuck Yim won the men's discus with a throw of 53.60 metres.

Athletes from 11 nations are competing at the 10-day SEA Games, which are held every two years in sports ranging from athletics and swimming to sepak takraw and wushu. They close on Friday.