BANGKOK, Thailand – Filipino-Spanish hurdler John Cabang Tolentino delivered a masterful performance on Friday, December 12, 2025, smashing the longstanding SEA Games record in the men’s 110m hurdles with a blistering time of 13.66 seconds to claim gold at the Supachalasai National Stadium. The victory—Philippines’ first athletics gold in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games—eclipsed the previous mark of 13.69 seconds set by Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet in 2015, sending the Filipino contingent into ecstasy and marking a triumphant return for the Paris Olympian.
Tolentino, 24, powered through the final with commanding form, pulling away from the field to deny Singapore’s Ang Chen Xiang (13.75 seconds, silver) and Malaysia’s Abdul Latif Mohamad Armin Zahryl (13.85 seconds, bronze). “I had some wrong steps, but I’m strong, so it didn’t matter,” Tolentino quipped post-race, his grin wide as he draped the Philippine flag over his shoulders. “For me, it’s a big honor to raise the flag on the top of the podium for the Philippines. I’m super happy.”
The gold capped a banner day for Philippine athletics, with Hokett Delos Santos also topping the men’s decathlon for another golden haul. Tolentino’s record-breaking run—his first SEA Games gold—comes after injury setbacks at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where hip issues curtailed his campaign. Healthier and hungrier, the Filipino-Spanish sensation dedicated the win to his supporters: “This is for everyone who believed—even when I couldn’t race in Paris.”
A Milestone for Philippine Track and Field
Tolentino’s triumph adds to a growing legacy in hurdles, succeeding icons like Eric Cray while inspiring the next wave. The SEA Games athletics program, a perennial Philippine stronghold, saw this as the breakthrough gold after earlier silvers and bronzes. “It’s not just a medal; it’s motivation for our youth athletes,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano.
As Team Philippines surges toward its 60-gold target, Tolentino’s record-smashing sprint isn’t just a personal pinnacle—it’s a Philippine proclamation: In the regional arena, no hurdle is too high when heart meets heat.
Final Results – Men’s 110m Hurdles:
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | John Cabang Tolentino | Philippines | 13.66 (SEA Games Record) |
| Silver | Ang Chen Xiang | Singapore | 13.75 |
| Bronze | Abdul Latif Mohamad Armin Zahryl | Malaysia | 13.85 |