CHONBURI, Thailand. – The Southeast Asian Games gold medal remained elusive for the Philippine men’s floorball team as it fell to Thailand in the final 2-6 at the National Sports University here on Friday.
In the thick of the fight for the gold after a 1-1 deadlock through the first two periods, the Filipinos ran out of gas and saw the defending champion Thais score five goals in the final salvo.
“They were really good. We got them in the first and the second period. But in the third period, they stood stronger than us. We kept making mistakes. They did something good against our mistakes,” said forward Richard Ponce.
After Thailand broke the ice in the 30th minute behind Jeerayut Yaemyim, the Philippines pulled level at 1-1 mere seconds later courtesy of a Lucas Werelius goal assisted by Kim Varga.
The Filipinos preserved that tie going into the third period before the Thais finally connected on their scoring opportunities as two Liam Kerdsawangwong goals sandwiched a Simon Johansson conversion as the host team took a 4-1 lead.
Varga kept the Philippines within shouting distance with a goal of his own, 2-4, but Johansson and Kerdsawangwong each scored again to secure the Thais’ title repeat.
It marked the second straight SEA Games the Philippines settled for a men’s floorball silver as it also lost to Thailand in the final of the 2023 Cambodia edition.
Philippine Floorball Clubs Association president Marco Ortiz said the home crowd and injuries to defender Ludvig Hemmingberg and forward Melvin Mendoza affected the team.
