The Filipino student-athletes from swimming, judo and badminton made last ditch effort in their respective events but could only bag three silver and three bronze medals on the final day of the 16th Asean University Games held in Vientiane, Laos.

Reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines Athlete of the Year Johansen Aguilar of De La Salle University failed to defend his title in the men’s 200-meter backstroke, finishing second with a time of two minutes and 9.09 seconds.

Indonesian Glenn Sutanto took the gold medal by virtue of his record-breaking performance of 2:08.36. Thai Nawatep Juangsang grabbed the bronze with 2:09.71.

University of the Philippines ace tanker Claire Adorna added one more silver medal in the women’s 200m backstroke as she submitted 2:27.01 behind gold winner Patricia Yosita Hapsari of Indonesia (2:24.63). Chaniporn Suteerana of Thailand placed third in 2:27.51 while another Filipina bet Jacklyn Junio wound up fifth with 2:31.89.

Celina Gonzalez checked in at 1:08.24 to claim the bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly dominated by Malaysian Hii Siew Siew (1:03.71) and Indonesian Ressa Kania Dewi (1:04.60).

In judo, Angelo Gabriel Gumila bowed to Thai Saksit Kaewjulsri in the finals of the men’s over 81kg-90kg division to settle for silver while Matthew Simon Jao earned the bronze in the men’s over 90kg-100kg class by nipping Manivong Sengsouly of Laos in their battle-for-third match.
In badminton, Antonino Benjamin Gadi and Patrick Wilfred Natividad got bronze in the men’s doubles event.

Overall, the Philippine collected two gold, 12 silver and 16 bronze medals for seventh place while Malaysia copped the overall title with 60 golds, 47 silvers and 72 bronzes followed by Vietnam (56-35-28), Thailand (45-52-55), Indonesia (41-52-60), Laos (31-35-46) and Singapore (3-6-23).