BANGKOK, Thailand – Team Philippines delivered a stunning double gold in the men’s and women’s 800m finals at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Supachalasai National Stadium. Young stars Hussein Loraña (men’s) and Naomi Marjorie Cesar (women’s) dominated their races, marking a breakout moment for Philippine middle-distance running and boosting the delegation’s athletics haul to four golds.
Loraña, 21, clocked 1:48.80 to claim men’s gold, edging Thailand’s Joshua Robert Atkinson (1:49.24, silver). The victory denied the hometown favorite a repeat of his 2021 title.
In the women’s race, 16-year-old Cesar pulled off a historic upset with 2:10.2 in a thrilling photo finish, ending Vietnam’s 13-edition dominance. Defending champion Nguyen Thi Thu Ha took silver (2:10.3), while Filipina Bernalyn Bejoy secured bronze (2:10.6) for a double podium.
These wins tie athletics with practical shooting for the most Philippine golds through six days, joining earlier triumphs from John Cabang Tolentino (110m hurdles) and Hokett Delos Santos (decathlon). Cesar’s gold adds family flair—her sister Malea Cesar competes for the Filipinas football team in Wednesday’s final against Vietnam, with father Ben (a former athlete) coaching Naomi.
The youthful sweep signals a bright future for Philippine track and field, blending emerging talent with medal momentum as the Games push toward the 60-gold target.
800m Results Snapshot:
| Event | Gold Athlete | Time | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s | Hussein Loraña (PH) | 1:48.80 | Joshua Atkinson (THA) | N/A |
| Women’s | Naomi Cesar (PH) | 2:10.2 | Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (VIE) | Bernalyn Bejoy (PH) |