BANGKOK—Filipino jiu-jitsu artists Kimberly Custodio and Dean Roxas lit up the Ronnaphakat Building at the Navaminda Kasatiryahiraj Air Force Academy on Thursday, delivering performances that stirred the crowd and proved the Philippines’ growing presence on the Southeast Asian Games mat.
Already a three-time world champion but a newcomer to the SEA Games stage, Custodio brought home gold after a gripping duel with Thailand’s Sugun Nutchaya in the women’s 48kg ne-waza division.
For most of the match, the two traded positions in a tense chess match of grips and leverage. But in the final 30 seconds, Custodio dug deep, scrambled to top control, and secured three decisive points—enough to break the deadlock and silence the home crowd.
Moments later, Roxas delivered an entirely different kind of statement—quick and dominant.
In the men’s 85kg final, he overwhelmed Singapore’s Aacus Hou Yu Ee, forcing a submission in short order and handing the Philippines its fourth gold of the games as of presstime.
The victory carried extra weight for Roxas, who stepped onto the mat nursing the remnants of an injury suffered in Japan less than three weeks earlier.
“I went through a lot this year… I thought I wasn’t going to compete,” Roxas said. “Grateful to be here, grateful to soak in the moment, represent the country, and get another gold for the Philippines.”
The lone heartbreak of the finals came in the men’s 69kg division, where Yman Baluyo fought gamely, but was ultimately submitted by Vietnam’s Dang Dinh Tung.
Earlier in the day, Kaila Napolis, Marc Lim, and Vito Luzuriaga each secured bronze medals.
