Pole Vault Star EJ Obiena Makes History for the Philippines in ‘September to Remember’
Pole vault star EJ Obiena has delivered a memorable performance for the Philippines in what has been dubbed a “September to remember” for the country’s sporting warriors. Obiena, currently ranked as the world’s No. 2 pole vaulter, soared to a gold medal victory at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, breaking the Asian Games record with a mark of 5.90 meters. This achievement marked the start of a successful campaign for Team Philippines, who went on to secure one gold, one silver, and six bronze medals in the early stages of the 19th Asiad.
Joining Obiena in the spotlight was tennis sensation Alex Eala, who ended a 61-year medal drought for Pinay netters with a bronze in women’s singles. She later teamed up with Francis Casey Alcantara to claim a podium finish in mixed doubles. Other notable achievers included silver-winning wushu fighter Arnel Andal (men’s 56kg) and bronze medalists Patrick King Perez (taekwondo poomsae men’s individual), Clemente Tabugara Jr. (wushu sanda men’s 65kg), Gideon Padua (wushu sanda men’s 60kg), and Jones Inso (wushu men’s taijijian).
Meanwhile, in Genk, Belgium, Kevin Pascua led the way with a gold medal victory in the OCR World Championship, contributing to the country’s overall success with one gold, one silver, and one bronze. Pascua triumphed in the men’s OCR 110-meter event, while Precious Cabuya and Kaizen dela Serna secured second and third place finishes in the women’s competition, respectively.
In basketball, the Jordan Clarkson-led Gilas Pilipinas ended their run in the Fiba World Cup with a dominant 96-75 win over China in the classification stage. This victory secured them a 24th place finish overall and secured a spot for the Philippines in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The country also celebrated the successful hosting of the World Cup, highlighted by a record crowd of 38,115 on opening night during the Philippines-Dominican Republic match at the Philippine Arena.
For Obiena, this successful month comes on the heels of his recognition alongside the Little League Softball World Series-conquering Bago City girls’ team in the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s honor roll for August.
It was truly a month to remember for Obiena, Eala, and other Filipino athletes who showcased their exceptional skills and brought glory to their country on the international stage.
