NAGOYA — A job well done.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio and Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president Mike Barredo lauded the Filipino para athletes for their hard-earned medals and 17th-place finish at the 5th Asian Para Games, which closed Saturday at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

The Philippines wrapped up its campaign with two golds, two silvers and three bronzes after more than a week of grueling competition.

Swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Arjay Alegarbes delivered the gold medals, while Gawilan and the table tennis mixed doubles tandem of Wilfred Redulla and Lhey Manginsay bagged the silvers. Swimmer Raemond Adefuin, runner King James Reyes and shot putter Ma. Ravinia Carpena contributed one bronze each.

The seven-medal haul highlighted the Filipinos’ performance in Nagoya, where chess was not included in the competition program, unlike at the previous edition in Hangzhou three years ago.

In Hangzhou, the Philippines collected 10 golds, four silvers and five bronzes, with chess accounting for eight golds, three silvers and two bronzes.

“It was a very successful performance. Congratulations,” said Gregorio, who flew to Nagoya for the final two days of competition to cheer on the Filipino delegation.

“Ang Asian Para Games walang chess. Yung huli sa China, may chess, dami medalya. Eto, ginto dito, mahirap panalunan. Alam mong pinaghirapan,” he said, stressing the value of the gold medals won in events outside chess.

Barredo echoed Gregorio’s assessment, noting that the Philippines performed well even without the medals previously earned in chess.

“More or less, with what we did last Para minus chess, of course, we did well,” Barredo said.

The Philippine team now turns its attention to the next Asian Para Games in Doha, Qatar, in 2031, with hopes of building on its Nagoya campaign and bringing further pride to the country.

“Ang importante, tuloy ang suporta natin sa Philippine para athletes,” Gregorio said.

Beyond the competition, Gregorio and Barredo also met with Asian Paralympic Committee president Majid Rashed to discuss a possible partnership in developing the Philippines’ first training center dedicated exclusively to para athletes.

“One of the reasons I’m here, I met with the APC president and asked them to help develop a game center, pareho ng ginawa natin sa taekwondo, football and baseball,” Gregorio said.

The proposed facility would provide para athletes with a dedicated venue to train and prepare for future international competitions.