Islay Bomogao, LJ Rafael Yasay add to PH’s SEA Games haul with muay golds

CHONBURI, Thailand – Competing in the very country where their sport originated from, Islay Erika Bomogao and LJ Rafael Yasay stamped their class.

Bomogao and Yasay delivered the Philippines two gold medals in muay in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games following victories in their respective finals at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, December 17.

Pitted against home bet Arissara Noon-Eiad, Bomogao left the partisan Thai crowd in disappointment as she hacked out a 29-28 win in the women’s -45kg division. 

“I’m really happy because I won versus the host country. My opponent is a superstar here, so it feels so nice to finally beat someone at that level,” said 25-year-old Igorot from Cordillera. 

Her victory came after several Filipino representatives lost to their Thai foes in other combat sports, most notably in boxing. 

“I’m really happy to give hope to the Filipino people, that even though the situation is what it is, there are miracles. We can do it. We can win against the host country,” said Bomogao, who also bagged bronze in the women’s individual waikru. 

While Islay needed to go the distance, Yasay made quick work of Malaysia’s Insyad Rumijam with a second-round knockout in their men’s -51kg title clash.

The gold more than made up for all the things the 21-year-old Yasay missed out on as he focused on muay. 

“I stopped school for almost two, three years now. I devoted all my time in being an athlete. But of course, I’ll go back to school,” said Yasay. 

The muay team produced a total of 11 medals, with Tyron Jamborillo missing out on a golden hat trick for the squad as he settled for silver in the men’s -45kg division.

Jamborillo lost to Thailand’s Krittanu Saladkaew in the final.

The rest of those medals were bronzes courtesy of Mark Jeremy Balmoris (men’s -54kg), Floryvic Montero (women’s -51kg), Rudzma Abubakar (women’s -48kg), Jan Brix Ramiscal (men’s -48kg), Ejay Galendez (men’s -60kg), Philip Delarmino (men’s individual waikru), and Mathew Blane Comicho (men’s -67kg). – Rappler.com