By Drew Malihan
MANILA - With the last medals of beach handball given to the three awardees, the Philippines are now the overall champions for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which happened from Nov. 30-Dec. 11.
The host country garnered 149 gold medals along with 117 silvers and 120 bronzes, including the last one in beach handball.
This was four gold medals better than the previous record set by then-host country Malaysia who gathered 145 last 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.
It was the best performance of the country, eclipsing the 113 gold medal tally listed in 2005, the only other time the Philippines was the overall champions.
Vietnam pulled away from Thailand on the last day of competition, winning 97 golds, 85 silvers, and 104 bronzes, with the latter finishing third with 92 golds.
Indonesia ranked fourth with 72, Malaysia with 55, and Singapore as sixth overall with 53.
Myanmar and Cambodia each had four, although Myanmar has thrice the silver medals as their Cambodian counterparts, 18 to six.
Brunei finished with two golds out of their 13, while Lao PDR garnered a gold, five silvers, and 28 bronze medals, thanks to their last-minute haul at kickboxing.
Timor-Leste will head back to Dili with a silver medal and five bronzes in their pocket, all of them coming from combat sports.
The closing ceremonies will be held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium on the evening of Dec. 11 to formally close the biennial meet.
Follow him on Twitter: @drewmalihan
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