TEAM PHL KEEPING THE FIGHT

CHONBURI - Olympians EJ Obiena and Joanie Delgaco, kickboxer Zyra Bon-as and rhythmic gymnast Jasmine Althea Ramilo kicked into gear to keep Team Philippines rolling in a relatively slower day that followed Monday's robust haul.

- By OLMIN LEYBA

On the heels of the delegation's strong eight-gold loot, world No. 11 pole vaulter Obiena stormed to a four-peat in record-breaking fashion to lead four triumphs in Day 7 of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here.

Obiena extended his reign with a 5.70-meter vault, shattering the old SEAG standard of 6.65m he himself set previously in Cambodia, to get the Philippines' total gold harvest to 29 to go with 44 silvers and 89 bronzes as of 7:30 p.m. (Manila time).

Delgaco, his batchmate at the Paris Games, opened the gold-mining business for the 1,600-strong contingent yesterday with her mid-morning victory with Kristine Paraon in rowing action in Rayong.

Delgaco and Paraon sculled in harmony and with technical efficiency, an edge they used in ruling the women's double sculls in 8:16.634 and denying the bid of Thailand's Sukkaew Rawiwan and Chaempudsa Parisa (8:21.634) to add to their massive quarry.

The next Philippine gold didn't come until close to dusk when Bon-as reigned supreme in the 48kgs Low Kick category, also at the expense of a home bet, Jantakam Manoban, with a close 2-1 verdict in Samut Prakan.

Fil-Italian Ramilo joined the winners' circle hours later as she danced and flexed to the top of the Individual All-Around event with 102.180 points, beating Singapore's Mikayla Angeline Yang (101.490) and Malaysia's Joe Ee Ng (96.890).

Team Philippines sat at sixth in the medal derby, behind Malaysia, which also had 30 mints but with more silvers at 31.