PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – While the midday sun was hot and shining brightly, it’s been raining gold for the Philippines Team A after asserting its dominance over local and foreign rivals with a huge haul of 31 gold, 39 silver and 32 bronze medals to claim the overall title in the 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games Thursday, Dec. 5 here.

La Salle tanker Philip Sahagun made the biggest wave for the hosts with five gold medals after sweeping all of his events – boys’ 200 IM, 4x100 freestyle and medley relays, 200m and 100m backstroke.

He spearheaded Team A’s assault that resulted in its second overall crown in the regional meet.

Also starring for the squad were trackster Milchay Moreno, swimmers Paolo Labanon and siblings Lora Micah and Marga Amoguis and jin Jamie Danielle Nirza.

On the other hand, Malaysia B (17-16-19) earned the runner-up honor with 50 medals followed by Indonesia (14-8-6), and country’s team E (13-8-11), which was spearheaded by UP standout and PNG multi-champion Quendy Fernandez, at third and fourth places, respectively.

The 19-year-old Fernandez splashed her way to become the most bemedalled athlete as she took home five golds (girls’ 50m, 100m and 200m back, 4x50 200m medley and freestyle relays) and two silvers (4x100m medley, 4x100 400m free).

Clinching the fifth place is PH’s B (6-6-10), followed by Brunei Darussalam (3-2-8), Malaysia A (2-4-3), PH’s C (1-3-4) and PH’s D (1-2-10).

Last Wednesday afternoon, Philippines E reigned supreme in the esports event – where Mobile Legends: Bang Bang played – after pulling off a 3-1 triumph over PH’s D, which settled for silver. Malaysia and PH’s A took the bronze.

In sepak takraw at Palawan State University (PSU) Gym, the Indonesian bets conquered the men’s and women’s titles while PH team A bagged silver in both categories.

The closing ceremony is being held as of press time at the Balayong Basketball Covered court with the overall winners expected to be announced as well as the turnover ceremony for the next host, Malaysia.

All participating athletes are taking part in the assembly that will be joined by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Walter Torres, BIMP-EAGA and local top officials.

The friendly competition was held on Philippine soil four times – as the Davao edition was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic – including its inaugural iteration in General Santos City in 1996 and 2012.