BANGKOK — The Filipino crowd celebrated wildly and in unison — as if, not a few moments ago, they were at the edge of their seats during a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

But everyone, from the stands, to the coaches, and more so the players, embraced the moment and basked in the glory no one has ever experienced in the past.

For the first time in history, the Philippine women’s football team crowned themselves as queens in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with a pulsating 6-5 sudden-death penalty shootout against Vietnam following a goal-less draw at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

With the 120 minutes not enough to decide the winner, everything boiled down on goalkeeper Olivia McDaniels who displayed unwavering resolve and superb instinct to save Vietnam’s sixth attempt in the penalty shootout.

Vietnam’s Tran Thi Thu’s sent the ball to the near top right corner of the goal but was perfectly read by McDaniels who immediately grabbed the ball for a gold-clinching save.

It was the first gold medal for the Philippines in all of SEA Games football — one that initially looked like it would remain elusive before referees nullified what seemed like an opening goal for the Vietnamese at the 30th minute mark.

Bich Thuy, who was celebrating after her header found the back of the net, was called for an offside.

The Filipinas would then hold their ground, and while getting their own chances — the closest, a Sara Eggesvik header that narrowly missed the wide-open post at the 72nd minute — the team didn’t see a goal even up until the end of the extra minute.

The Filipinas and the Vietnamese engaged in the shootout kick by kick with Jael-Marie Guy, Alexa Pino, Hali Long, Angie Beard and Arianna Markey scoring the goals before the telling blow was dealt by Jackie Sawicki.