CAPAS, Tarlac -- The Philippines ended an eight-year gold medal drought in wrestling's return to the 30th Southeast Asian Games as two men's fighters climbed the top of the podium at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga.
Noel Norada and Jason Baucas clinched golds in the -63kg and -72kg greco roman category by sweeping their respective groups Monday.
Norada overcame a tough challenge posed by eventual silver medalist Cong Thanh Nguyen, 14-7, in the first match before dispatching opponents from Laos, Thailand and Cambodia on his way to gold.
Cambodia's Phanit Eng won bronze in that event.
In the -72kg division, Baucas edged Vietnam's Hong Phuc Duong, 11-6, in his last game to secure the first-place finish. Laos' Sengsavanh Phachanxay took bronze.
Four other wrestlers settled for silver after dropping fights against their Vietnamese foes.
Michael Cater went 2-1 in the -55kg division after losing his lone match against first-placer Dinh Huy Nguyen. He later beat bronze winner Myo Ko to grab second.
In the -60kg division, Margarito Angana Jr. bowed in his first match against Tien Hau Bui 8-3 before taking care of business against Myanmar's Wana Tun (silver winner) and two other foes to climb the podium.
Jason Balabal missed a chance at a gold in his final assignment after losing 5-2 to Dinh Hiue Nghiem there, while Jiah Pingot couldn't sustain a strong start in a 5-2 loss against Thi Xuan Nguyen in the women's -50kg event.
In the -77kg category, Jefferson Manatad settled for a bronze finish after winning just one match -- a 9-1 drubbing of Cambodia's Makara Nguon -- in his division.
More medals are up for grabs on Tuesday, the final day of the event.