Cheng lauds Phl skaters’ SEAG feats

The Philippine Skating Union (PHSU) commended figure skating and ice skating athletes for their best-ever medal haul in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand.

PHSU president Nikki Cheng said getting many medals in the recent biennial meet was a positive development as they were able to end the year on a high note.

The Filipino skaters came up with one of its most impressive finishes when they bagged a combined haul of 1-2-3 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the prestigious biennial meet.

“We’re very glad to end the year strong with the results of the SEA Games because it’s the biggest medal haul for us,” Cheng said in a phone conversation with DAILY TRIBUNE.

“I think 2019 was the last time that there was ice skating and we have three medals for ice skating. Now, we have six medals so that’s the progression on where Philippine skating is going.”

Speed skater Peter Groseclose was the most successful Filipino skater, winning the gold medal in the men’s 500-meter event, the silver medal in the 1500m event and the bronze medal in the men’s 5000m relay with Hans Matthew Buemio, Jahn Asuncion and Sunphil Zablan.

The quartet of Shaelynn Adrianne Bolos, Xsandrie Viande Guimba, Ethelmae Jewel Suguitan, and Renee Caitlyn Benitez also bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m relay to add to the medal tally.

Meanwhile in figure skating, Paolo Borromeo bagged a bronze medal in the men’s singles while Maxine Marie Bautista got a silver medal in the women’s singles.

Cheng commended her skaters for a job well done as they were able to get podium finishes despite competing in numerous competitions in a bid to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Maxime and Paulo, they tried. However, honestly, there weren’t many expectations on our end because their entry to Philippine Skating was cutting it too close to the Olympic year,” Cheng said.

“For Peter in the SEA Games, on our end, we would say that it was highly expected. We know that he is the strongest skater in the Southeast Asian region and we were even really expecting two golds.”