SEA Games: PH poomsae teams add another gold, 2 silvers to medal haul

PH’s Men’s Poomsae Team competes in the 2019 SEA Games in Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines slowed down its haul after plucking another  gold and a couple of silver medals in the recognized poomsae competition of the taekwondo event in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Saturday at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Rodolfo Reyes Jr., who earlier won the gold in the men’s individual category, Raphael Mella, and Dustin Mella ruled the men’s team event, scoring an 8.483 mark for the championship.

Vietnam’s Thanh Trung Le, Tien Khoa Tran, Thien Phung Nguyen, nabbed the silver with a score of 8.416.

“The journey’s been long, we went through a lot as a team, individually we’ve had our own personal hardships but at the end it all paid off,” said Dustin. “With the SEA Games in Manila, we really felt the support of our people and it really boosted us.”

The women’s team didn’t have the same fate with Rinna Babanto, Aidaine Laxana, and women’s individual gold medalist Jocelyn Ninobla settling for the silver after registering 7.999, 0.400 behind winner Thailand.

Ornawee Srisahakit, Kotchawan Chomchuen, and Phenkaya Phaisankiattikun took the gold with 8.3999.

Dustin and Babanto then settled for another silver this time in the mixed pair category after losing to Malaysia’s Jason Loo Jun Wei and Hidayah Abdul Karim Nurul.

The Philippine pair scored an 8.233 mark while the Malaysians tallied 8.283.