The Philippines has made history at the Asian Winter Games, securing its first-ever medal — and it’s gold.
The men’s national curling team — composed of Marc Pfister, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, Alan Frei, and Benjo Delarmente — delivered a stunning 5-3 victory over South Korea in the gold medal match at the Harbin Pingfang Curling Center in Harbin, China.
The triumph was a sweet redemption for the Filipinos, who had fallen to the Koreans 1-6 in their opening game just five days earlier on February 9.
This time, however, they rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
With the match tied at 3-3 in the sixth end, the Philippines capitalized on having the hammer, engaging in a series of takeout exchanges near the corner of the house.
Though Marc Pfister missed a draw that could have secured two points, he still managed to put the Pan Continental Curling Championships Group B winners ahead at 4-3.
That narrow lead placed immense pressure on the young Korean squad, while the Philippines executed their game plan with precision in the eighth and final end.
A missed promotion takeout attempt by Korean skip Lee Jaebeom on the Philippines’ closest stone sealed the match, clinching the historic gold for the Filipinos.
Earlier in the game, the Philippines took a 3-1 lead, but South Korea responded after the break, scoring two to level the contest.
In the end, though, it was the Filipinos who stood tall, etching their names in the record books.
This milestone victory for the young Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines capped off an impressive campaign, which also saw Marc Pfister and Katie Dubberstein finish fourth in mixed doubles.
Meanwhile, the women’s team — featuring Dubberstein, Anne Bonache, Sheila Mariano, Leilani An, and Jennifer Dela Fuente — secured a fifth-place finish.
