27-year old Hallasgo scored a bitter sweet victory in the women’s marathon at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium as she dethroned her idol Mary Joy Tabal to give the host its first gold of the day.

Christine Hallasgo waves the Philippine flag in a victory run after capturing gold in the Women’s Marathon. ROMAN PROSPERO @tribunephl_RRP

CAPAS CITY — It’s women power in Day 6 of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here.

The host country continues to pull away in the medal tally, thanks to the exploits of the Filipina athletes, who anchored Team Philippines’ seven-gold haul yesterday.

Christine Hallasgo emerged as the new SEA Games marathon queen, Bianca Pagdanganan pocketed her first meet gold, while judoka Mariya Takahashi remained as the queen in the -70kg class to highlight the country’ campaign yesterday.

After six days of competition, Team Philippines remained on top with a 70-53-46 (gold-silver-bronze) haul, followed by Indonesia (39-39-46), Vietnam (36-41-50), Singapore (28-20-33), Malaysia (26-19-28), Thailand (23-33-42), Myanmar (2-10-23), Cambodia (2-4-17), Brunei (1-5-5) and Laos (0-3-12).

The 27-year old Hallasgo scored a bittersweet victory in the women’s marathon at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium as she dethroned her idol Mary Joy Tabal to give the host its first gold of the day.

Hallasgo finished the race with the time of two hours, 56 minutes and 56 seconds, two minutes faster than the time of the Olympian, who was the favorite to repeat in the event.

“My focus is just to give the country any medal. I knew athletics has so many entries here and I just want to contribute for our country,” said Hallasgo, a first-timer in the 11-nation conclave.

Pagdanganan blew a two-shot lead and trailed Thai Kan Bunnabodee in the final two holes before closing with a 71 to take her first gold in the women’s individual stroke play at the Luisita Golf Club in Tarlac.

The 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist finished the round with a seven-under 216.

After shocking the five-time SEA Games champion Surattan Thongsri via ippon in the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Takahashi bounced back from an opening game loss to Indonesia’s Gusti Kakihara to defend her crown.

Stunning upset Defending champion Mary Joy Tabal (center) paces the leaders in women’s marathon but it was unheralded Christine Hallasgo (left) who was the eventual victor as she pulled off a huge surprise to bag the gold in the race that began and ended inside the New Clark City Athletic Stadium. ROMAN PROSPERO @tribunephl_RRP

And curiously, the 18-year old judoka needed another ippon win against Thongsri to secure the third gold medal of the Philippine judo team,

Kiyomi Watanabe (women -63kg) and Shugen Nakano (men -66kg) took the first two golds of the hosts in the event held at the Laus Group Event Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“The team is ready, not just for the SEA Games but also for the Olympics,” Philippine Judo Federation president Dave Carter said.

The obstacle course race team completed its six-gold sweep as Menchu Abahan (women) and Merwin Guarte (men) ruled the 5kx20 obstacles at the Filinvest City Alabang.

Abahan finished the course with the time of 33 minutes and 30 seconds to beat compatriot Glorien Merisco (40:00) and Laos’ Khamla Sorvimane (55:27), while Guarte timed in 25:31 to edge teammate Sherwin Managil (26:16) and Malaysia’s two-time Spartan Elite champion Saddam Mohd Pittli (28:02).

Michael Ver Anton Comalin also delivered the gold for the country after ruling the men’s modern pentathlon individual beach.

Cyclist Jermyn Prado failed to score a double gold as she settled for the silver medal in the women’s individual road race. Prado won the gold the other day in the individual time trial event.

Hermie Macaranas (canoe men’s singles 1000m), Rene Catalan (combat sambo 57kg), the pair of Alvin Barbero and Jeffrey Roda (snooker men double) and the men’s bowling team also delivered silvers for the host nation.

It was a sad day in billiards as the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes lost to carom circuit world champion Ngo Dinh Nai of Vietnam, 14-100, in the semis of one-cushion carom event to settle for the bronze.

Fil-Am swimmer Remedy Rule notched her third medal in the pool after finishing with a bronze in the 200-meter freestyle event at the Aquatics Center.

The men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams also came up with bronze medals, while Princess Abrilon (modern pentathlon women’s individual), men’s and women’s sabre teams (fencing) and John Viron Ferrer (men’s judo 100kg) made the podium finish.

Boxer Carlo Paalam reached the finals of the men’s light flyweight after dominating Muhammad Faud Redzuan, 5-0, in their semis bout.

Ian Clark Bautista settled for bronze after losing to Thai Butdee Chatchai-Decha, 0-5, in men’s bamtamweight, while Pinay pugilist Aira Villegas lost a tough 3-2 decision to Thai counterpart Nilawan Techasuep 2-3.

Judokas Carl Aseneta (men’s 90kg), John Viron Ferrer (men;s 100kg) and Shin Matsumara (men’s +100kg) also grabbed bronze medals.