SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- A Philippine team looking to bounce back from a quiet opening day performance in judo recovered in a big way Thursday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the LausGroup Event Center here.
Fueled by terrific performances from Kiyomi Watanabe and Shugen Nakano, the Filipinos bagged two golds, a silver and three bronzes to score podium finishes in all events in the sport's second day.
Watanabe swept the -63kg division by dispatching both Malaysia's Nik Norlydiawati Nik Azman and Myanmar's Chu Myat Noe Wai via ippon to defend her title and win her fourth consecutive gold in the regional meet.
"Thank you for the support. The support from the home crowd was great," said Watanabe. "I'm happy. Thank you so much."
Meanwhile, Nakano bucked a half-point deficit in a nail-biting -66kg final against Budi Prasetiyo by beating the Indonesian via ippon in last 17 seconds to snatch first place.
"I was able to get the gold because of all your support," Nakano said through a translator. "I drew my strength from all the Filipinos' support. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"
Gilbert Ramirez bagged the country's lone silver of the by beating Laos' Chitakon Xayasan in the final round robin match of the -81kg division.
In the -52kg, Khrizzie Pabulayan took care of Malaysia's Xiuan Goh with 1:16 left to grab a bronze medal and fully overcome a shaky start to the competition.
"I was really nervous and stiff there. I wasn't able to do what I wanted to do that's why I lost," said Pabulayan, referring to her loss to eventual gold medalist Kachakom Warasiha (Thailand). "I just told myself I'd keep going whatever the result may be after that."
Rena Furukawa ousted Malaysia's Segaran Kamini Sri to finish third in the -57kg for the women's team's second bronze.
"Thank you for the support. I love the Philippines!" she exclaimed.
Keisei Nakano wasn't able to duplicate his twin brother's performance, but he still nabbed bronze in the -73kg department after downing Myanmar's Koq Ram Sai Aung in an inspired finish.
"Thank you for all the support. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get gold," a sullen Nakano said.
More medals could be taken home by the Philippines on the third day, where fighters in the men's (-90 and -100kg) and women's (-70 and -78kg) could add to the country's current haul.
Sambo gets two golds
Meanwhile, Filipino sambo fighters jalso contributed to the Philippines' gold medal binge by clinching two golds and a bronze Thursday at the Angeles University Foundation Gym.
MMA champion Mark Streigl dominated Singapore's Jaswanth Singh, 8-0, in the -74 kg division for his first-ever medal in the regional meet. Before that, the reigning URCC featherweight titlist beat Indonesia's Deni Fadhillah to advance to the finals.
Former UAAP juniors MVP Chino Sy took down Singapore's Gary Chow Weng Luen in the -82 division for the country's second gold. The 19-year-old star earlier dispatched Thailand's Sonram Jenghor in the semifinals.
Rene Mondejar III took home a bronze after bowing to Malaysian fighter Izzat Afandi, 5-0, in the -90 kg semis.
Patrick Manicad (-82 kg) and Jose Rene Mondejar III (-90 kg) failed to move past the semifinals against their respective foes.
The Philippines has one more day to capture more medals in the men's and women's combat and sport categories, and the mixed team divisions.