Jason Balabal outgrapples hometown bet to win gold at 32nd SEA Games

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 14) – Jason Balabal outgrappled a hometown bet on Sunday to net the Philippines’ 43rd gold medal at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The 37-year-old took down Cambodian Keo Sophak, 4-0, in the Greco-Roman wrestling 87 kilogram event, finally taking home the gold after falling short of the top prize in the past SEA Games.

Last year, Balabal settled for bronze in the freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling competitions in the 97kg weight class in Hanoi, Vietnam.

He last won gold in freestyle wrestling in the 2009 Games in Laos, and Greco-Roman wrestling in the 2011 Games in Thailand.

His win in Cambodia gave the Philippines its 43rd gold medal.