The Philippine national men's curling team is assured of at least a silver medal after beating China, 7-6, at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China Thursday evening.

The ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games will be the first time the Philippines will take home a medal in this prestigious winter multi-sport tournament since joining in 1990 in Sapporo, Japan.

After finishing Group A in second place with a 3-1 win-loss record, the Philippines defeated Japan, 10-4, in the qualification games to book a match with the Chinese.

The Nationals can make it even better by gunning for the gold medal on Friday at 9 a.m. when they face South Korea.

This will also be a chance for redemption for the Nationals after losing to the Koreans, 1-6, in their first match of the round-robin last Sunday.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino lauded the Nationals for becoming the first Southeast Asian country to clinch a medal in the Asian Winter Games.

“Sure of silver, first medal of the Philippines, and the first silver of an ASEAN athlete in the Asian Winter Games," Tolentino said.

“This is a great achievement that opens the door for our country’s first Winter Olympics medal.”