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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- The Philippines appears headed to a stronger finish in this year’s Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vientiane, Laos as Filipino athletes scooped 7 more gold medals on Thursday near the closing of the biennial event.

Thursday’s haul, which enabled the country to jump two notches, from 6th to 5th place, came from boxing, wushu and wrestling.

Boxers Bill Vicera and Charly Suarez produced gold medals following an outstanding performance from their female counterparts in women’s boxing.

Vicera scored first place by battering Laotian opponent Sikham Vongpakhoun in the pin weight division finals at the Olympasia Gymnasium, National University.

Charly Suarez was also beat Cambodia’s Phal Sophat in the featherweight finals.

Earlier, Annie Albania, Alice Apparri, Josie Gabuco scored 3 gold medals at the expense of their respective opponents on Wednesday.

Filipino wrestlers Jimmy Angana (60 kilograms and up) and Jason Balabal (74kg and up) also won in their respective finals.

Martial artists Mark Eddiva and Mariane Mariano duplicated the gold medal production of boxing and wrestling by winning top honors in wushu’s sanshou (65 kgs men’s and women’s).

Danilo Fresnido scored a gold medal finish in athletics by winning the men’s javelin throw at the Main Stadium, National Sports Complex.

On Thursday, the Philippines momentarily reached 4th place in the medal standings with 37 golds, 34 silvers, and 48 bronzes for a total of 119 medals. However, Malaysia caught up later after winning 3 more gold medals, relegating the Philippines to 5th.

The Philippines is looking to improve its 6th place finish in the 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand SEA Games where it hauled 41 gold, 91 silver and 96 bronze medals.

Vietnam remains ahead
Vietnam surged clear at the top of the SEAG medals table Thursday as they prepared to battle Malaysia for football gold on the final full day of action in Laos.

In a packed programme in capital Vientiane, including badminton and men's boxing finals, Vietnam's haul of 13 golds took them to a total of 76, seven clear of long-time leaders Thailand.

On the final day of track and field their tally was boosted by wins in the 1,500m for Nguyen Dinh Cuong and Truong Thanh Hang, both of whom had previously won their 800m events.

"I was injured before the SEA Games so I'm very happy to win two gold medals," said Nguyen Dinh Cuong, who timed 3 minutes 46.58 seconds.

In the women's event, Truong Thanh Hang held off a strong challenge by Myanmar's Than Toe Khin Myo down the home straight to win in 4:19.48, saying she was surprised by how hard she had been pushed in the final 100 meters.

Indonesia's Triyaningsih completed the women's 5,000 metres/10,000 metres double for the second SEA Games running, smashing the games record by more than a minute and finishing in 32 minutes, 49.47 seconds.

"I'm proud to have broken the record," she said, adding she had worked hard in the run-up to the games.

"I want to run the marathon at the Asian Games in China next year," she added, referring to the event in the southern city of Guangzhou.

The football final between Vietnam and Malaysia is a surprise match-up that will see a new winner for the first time since 1993, after Thailand won the previous eight editions.

Vietnam will go into the match full of confidence after beating Malaysia 3-1 in the group stages.

"We can win this match and we have to win at any price," coach Henrique Calisto told the Tien Phong newspaper.

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.