Angel Otom has firmly stamped her dominance at the 13th ASEAN Para Games, emerging as the most decorated Filipino athlete after a stellar performance in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S4-S5 event on Saturday at the 80th Birthday Aquatics Center.
The 22-year-old swimmer touched the wall in 44.51 seconds, claiming her fifth gold medal and sixth overall medal in this prestigious tournament for differently-abled athletes.
The 2024 Paris Paralympian exceeded her own record from the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia in 2023, where she had four golds and one silver.
“It was very fulfilling kasi nakuha ko five golds sa five individual events ko and one silver sa relay namin sa 4×50 freestyle,” Otom said. “Noong ASEAN Para Games sa Cambodia, hindi ko nakuha fifth gold ko kasi parang feel ko hindi pa ako ready.”
Gary Bejino captured his third gold with a time of 33.23 seconds in the men’s 50-meter freestyle S6, while Marco Tinamisan dominated the men’s 50m freestyle S3 with a finish of 52.13 seconds.
On the chessboard, Sander Severino and Darry Bernardo led the Philippine squad to four gold medals in the Standard Time Control category at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University.
Severino, a FIDE Master, tallied 5.5 points to rule the men’s individual PI event before teaming up with Jasper Rom and Henry Roger Lopez to clinch the men’s team PI title.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Bernardo captured gold in the B2 men’s division and added a team B2 title with Arman Subaste and Menandro Redor.
With the final day of competition set for Sunday, the Philippines is poised to surpass the 30-gold mark, sitting at 28 golds at press time.
