Metro Manila, Philippines – Team Philippines wrapped up its campaign at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games with 277 medals, ranking sixth in the medal tally board.
The Philippines bagged 50 golds, 73 silvers, and 154 bronzes after competing in the 33rd edition of the biennial multi-sport event in Thailand from Dec. 9 to Dec. 20.
The country’s rank was lower than the 5th place finish during the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, where the delegation hauled 58 gold medals.
“Very successful para sa amin. We broke many records, we defended, we beat their games ‘yun ang importante doon,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said.
[Translation: It’s very successful for us. We broke many records, we defended, we beat their games, that’s important.]
Tolentino said the Philippines’s success was “in spite of an uphill battle” in the SEA Games, referring to issues that included restrictions on eligibility set by host Thailand.
“Masakit man sabihin…Brutal ‘yong SEA Games…Pero di kinaya ng iba, Pilipino pa rin ang nanaig,” he said.
[Translation: It hurts to say it…The SEA Games were brutal…But others couldn’t handle it, Filipinos still prevailed.]
Philippine Sports Commission chairperson John Patrick Gregorio stressed that participating in the SEA Games is a strategic move with the Olympics in mind.
“‘Yang bronze medals, ‘yan ang grassroots natin,” Gregorio said. “Mag-iimprove nang mag-iimprove ‘yan because we gave them an opportunity to participate in the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok. Very happy ako.”
[Translation: The bronze medals are our grassroots. They will continue to improve because we gave them an opportunity to participate in the SEA Games in Bangkok. I’m very happy.]
Gregorio said the country won in games “that mattered most,” proving that Filipinos can excel in Olympic competitions.
Among the gold medal highlights came from EJ Obiena in men’s pole vault, Alex Eala in women’s tennis, GIlas Pilipinas Men and Gilas Pilipinas Women in 5×5 basketball, and the historic performance of Filipinas in women’s football.
Sports officials also noted the victories in beach volleyball, softball, and baseball.
Swimmer Kayla Sanchez was the most bemedaled Filipino athlete at this year’s SEA Games with three golds and five silvers.
