Combat Sports Boost Philippines' SEA Games Gold Count

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Philippine campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games surged on Thursday, 11 December 2025, with the combat sports disciplines delivering a significant boost to the country's gold medal tally.

Team Philippines successfully clinched five official gold medals on 11 December, building on the two golds won on the opening day:

• Ju-Jitsu Dominance: The ju-jitsu squad secured two gold medals in the Ne-waza events. Kimberly Anne Custodio triumphed in the Women's 49kg class, while Dean Michael Roxas topped the Men's 85kg category.

• Artistic Gymnastics: Olympian Aleah Finnegan contributed a gold medal by ruling the Women's Vault competition.

• Additional Golds: Two other Filipino athletes clinched gold medals on the day, with sources indicating victories in Weightlifting and Soft Tennis contributing to the final count of seven official golds.

Latest Medal Tally

With these victories, the Philippines’ overall medal haul has substantially increased. As of the evening of 11 December 2025, the country’s tally is:

Gold - 7

Silver - 5

Bronze - 19

Total: 31

This total places the Philippines among the top-performing nations early in the Games, with the country aiming to surpass its previous medal count.

Notable Winners & Demonstration Sport Gold

• MMA Gold in Demonstration Sport: Filipina fighter Geli Bulaong also achieved a gold medal on Thursday, winning the Women's Modern -60kg event in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). However, this victory will not be added to the official medal tally, as MMA is classified as a demonstration or "value-added" sport in the 2025 Games.

• Bronze Medals: The two latest official bronze medals came from Ju-Jitsu, with Marc Alexander Lim (Men's Ne-waza 69kg) and Vito Luzuriaga (Men's Ne-waza 85kg) contributing to the new total of 19 bronzes.

• Silver: Clarence Sarza also secured a silver medal finish in the Women's Taekwondo -46 kg event.

The Games are set to run until 20 December 2025, with the Philippines continuing to climb the overall medal rankings.