Home are the Asiad heroes

MANILA, Philippines — Home are the heroes and heroines from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The last batch of the Philippine delegation to leave the battlefield in Japan, led by taekwondo champion Jeus Yape and pole-vault king EJ Obiena and accompanied by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, arrived in Manila last night.

In the next few days, they’ll be sharing with countrymen their stories of success and the hard work and sacrifices it entailed in the uber-tough fight for continental honors.

A grateful nation is ready to roll out the red carpet for them.

An appreciative Philippine Sports Commission is preparing a generous reward amounting to at least P35 million for the four-gold, nine-silver, 16-bronze harvest in the 15-day conclave.

Gymnastics idol Carlos Yulo led the achievers from among the 447-strong contingent that gutted it out against Asia’s finest athletes.

Serving as the fire-starter with his triumph in floor exercise and vault early in the Games, Yulo stands to receive a cool P4-million for his twin golds – as mandated by RA 10699, which awards P2 million for the Asiad mint.

Yape returns with two medals adorning his chest – gold in virtual taekwondo and bronze in men’s individual poomsae, which is good for P2.4 million from the incentives law.

Obiena repeated as pole vault champion, earning P2 million, and his record-breaking effort of 5.91 meters is expected to get a fitting reward, as well.

With the troika as spearhead, Team Philippines ranked 17th overall in Nagoya. The medal output marked the country’s best since the 7-6-24 haul back in the 1962 Jakata edition.

Here is the complete list of the top performers in Japan:

GOLD MEDALS

Carlos Yulo – Gymnastics (Men’s floor)

Carlos Yulo – Gymnastics (Men’s vault)

EJ Obiena – Athletics (Men’s pole vault)

Jeus Yape – Taekwondo (Mixed virtual taekwondo)

SILVER MEDALS

Jean Claude Saclag – Mixed Martial Arts

(Men’s traditional 65kg)

Kacey dela Rosa, Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka, Maria Victoria Pasilang – 3x3 Basketball (Women’s tournament)

Nelly Jay Salon, Abegail Sinogbuhan, Jean Marie Sucalit – Sepak takraw – (Women’s doubles)

Amaya Amparo Cojuangco – Archery (Women’s individual compound) Juliana Candelaria – Taekwondo (Women’s individual poomsae) –

Carlo Paalam – Boxing (Men’s 55kg)

Tachiana Mangin – Taekwondo (Women’s –49 kg)

Kurt Bryan Barbosa – Taekwondo (Men’s –58 kg)

Alex Enriquez – Ju-jitsu (Women’s –63 kg)

BRONZE MEDALS

Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Hilary Paas, Shyryn Salazar, Christy Sañosa – Soft tennis (Women’s team)

Carlos Alvarez – Mixed martial arts (Men’s traditional 77kg)

Ysabielle Arrogante, Ricca Torres-Foronda, Sam Vegullas – Karate (Women’s team kata)

Marie June Adriano – Karate (Women’s kumite 50kg)

Eldrew Yulo – Gymnastics (Men’s horizontal bar)

Albert Delos Santos – Weightlifting (Men’s 70kg)

SIBOL – Rence Gatmaitan, David Lance, Ducke Leoncio, Robert Mempin, Michael Ocio, Kim Rey Salazar – Esports (Pokémon Unite)

John Cabang – Athletics (Men’s 110m hurdles)

SIBOL – Dragon Dajao, Golden Dajao, Charles Esguerra, Chammy Nazarrea, Justine Tan, Jhon Tungol – Esports  (Honor of Kings)

Reynaldo Asilum Jr., Ronsited Gabayeron, Jason Huerte, Glindel Phori, Jom Lerry Rafael – Sepak takraw  (Men’s regu)

Jayuard Alciso – Surfing (Men’s shortboard)

Victoria Bossong – Athletics (Women’s 800 meters)

Alexandra Eala – Tennis (Women’s singles)

Jeus Yape – Taekwondo (Men’s individual poomsae)

Sofiah Pagara & Khylem Progella – Beach Volleyball (Women’s tournament)

Kaila Napolis – Ju-jitsu (Women’s 52kg)