Filipino-Canadian Kayla Noelle Sanchez wins the 100m freestyle event at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Dec. 12, 2025. She got two more gold medals and five silvers. (Contributed photo)
Fresh off one of its most productive campaigns in regional history, the 1,200-strong Team Philippines was named the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) monthly achiever for December 2025 following its impressive showing at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
The Filipino contingent collected 50 gold medals to go with 73 silvers and 154 bronzes, finishing sixth overall in the final medal standings. Host Thailand dominated the tally with 233 golds, 154 silvers and 113 bronzes, followed by Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
A major highlight came from Filipino-Canadian swimmer Kayla Noelle Sanchez, who made a sensational SEA Games debut by winning eight medals, including three golds and five silvers, immediately establishing herself as a cornerstone of Philippine swimming.
In athletics, pole vault star EJ Obiena continued his reign by securing his fourth consecutive SEA Games gold, while 16-year-old middle-distance standout Naomi Cesar ruled the women’s 800 meters. The national athletics team finished with five golds, seven silvers and 19 bronzes, marking its second-best SEA Games performance since a 32-medal haul in 1983.
Practical shooting also delivered strongly, led by world champion Rolly Tecson, as the squad produced four golds, five silvers and five bronzes. Swimming added further depth with three golds, nine silvers and two bronzes, while modern pentathlon, triathlon and gymnastics all contributed multiple podium finishes.
On the team sports front, Gilas Pilipinas Men successfully defended the men’s 5-on-5 basketball title, while the women’s team reclaimed the crown, both victories coming at the expense of the hosts. The Philippines also swept titles in men’s and women’s softball and captured the men’s baseball championship.
Tennis star Alex Eala ended a 26-year drought by winning the women’s singles gold, while boxer Eumir Marcial delivered the country’s lone gold in boxing. Winter sports made a successful return to the SEA Games stage behind Peter Groseclose, who claimed gold in the men’s 500-meter short track speed skating and silver in the 1,500 meters.
In football, the Filipinas etched another milestone by dethroning eight-time champion Vietnam in the women’s final, prevailing 6–5 on penalties after a scoreless draw through extra time. The victory reinforced the team’s growing stature in Southeast Asian football.
Alas Pilipinas likewise made history in women’s beach volleyball, as the quartet of Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Sunnie Villapando and Dij Rodriguez snapped Thailand’s long-standing dominance to claim the gold.
The breadth of medals across individual and team sports underscored the Philippines’ steady rise as a regional sporting power, making Team Philippines a fitting choice for PSA’s final monthly citation of 2025.