Graphics by Jhon Carl Moron

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam — Fourteen-year-old Chrisia Mae Tajarros of Eastern Visayas region delivered the Philippines’ first medal at the 14th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) after claiming silver in the girls’ 3000-meter run at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on November 22.

Tajarros stayed composed throughout the race, keeping pace with the lead pack before unleashing a strong finishing kick that secured her second-place finish and placed the Philippines on the medal board early in the competition.

According to official results, Tajarros clocked 10:18.86, trailing gold medalist Thi Binh Trieu of Vietnam (10:13.22) and edging out Indonesia’s Wilma Selvi, who settled for bronze with 10:34.66.

The Tanauan National High School standout earlier earned national attention after winning gold in the same event at the 65th Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, where she recorded 10:18.60, further strengthening her growing athletic credentials.

Philippine coaches noted marked improvements in her race discipline and closing speed, pointing out that her final lap ranked among the fastest in the field, an encouraging sign as she steps into more competitive international meets.

The 14th ASEAN Schools Games runs from November 20 to 28, 2025, gathering student-athletes from across Southeast Asia to compete in eight sports: athletics, badminton, basketball, swimming, netball, pencak silat, sepak takraw, and wushu.

The Philippine contingent aims to surpass its sixth-place finish in last year’s ASG in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Article by Ellie Cabalhin