Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10) – The Philippine beach handball team is assured of a silver medal finish in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.
National team head coach Jana Franquelli confirmed to CNN Philippines the team’s runner-up finish, which is an improvement from their bronze medal performance in 2019 held at Subic Bay.
The Filipinos hold a 3-2 record at second place in the four-nation tournament, which follows a double round-robin format.
On Tuesday, the Philippine beach handball players lost in three sets against Vietnam, the only country that defeated the Filipinos in the competition. The host nation is sure to win a second straight gold medal in the sport owing to its immaculate 5-0 record.
Also a big factor for the Philippine beach handball team’s impending silver medal finish is the two wins they pulled off against 2019 silver medalist Thailand. Their second match versus the Thais on Monday ended in a thrilling three-set win for the Filipinos.
The Philippines will formally take their silver medal triumph on Wednesday in their final, non-bearing match against Singapore.
