Emerson Obiena, father of Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena, was the lone competitor in the men 60+ category of the 2025 World Masters Games in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
The former 1993 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist leapt to his best at 3.60 meters.
“Maganda ang resulta kahit hirap ako sa talon ko dahil ako lang mag-isa,” said Obiena in an interview days after he took home the gold medal.
Italian Gian Carlo Cichelli claimed the gold medal in the 55+ side with his jump of 3.2 meters while Taiwanese bet Ching Shou Lin landed second at 2.9 meters.
Obiena, who serves as Philippine Sports Commission’s national team coach and University of Santo Tomas’ head coach for boys athletics, will next go to Gumi, South Korea for the Asian Athletics Championships.
The 60-year old Obiena patriarch will handle the jumps of Hocket de los Santos, who recently earned a silver medal at the 2025 PATAFA Philippine Pole Vault Challenge.
Because of national team duties, Obiena would most probably skip the Palarong Pambansa in Laoag, Ilocos and miss out at the coach of the National Capital Region in the secondary boys division.
Last year, NCR claimed a 1-2 gold-silver finish when Prince Angeles of Angeles University and Francis Sillar of UST cleared 3.8 meters, under Obiena’s guidance at the Palaro.