NEW CLARK CITY - The duo of Ana Manalo Nualla and Sean Mischa Aranar earned the distinction as the country's first triple gold winners in the 30th Southeast Asian Games after topping three events in dancesport on Sunday.
Nualla and Aranar, who had been dancing together for the last six years, topped the Standard Tango and Viennese Waltz, respectively of the standard category at the Royce Hotel.
They later added the standard five dance to their collection and spearheaded the Filipino dancers' bid in the one-day event where 14 golds are at stake in all.
"Hindi pa siya nagsi-sink in, pero unti-unti na," said an ecstatic Nualla afterwards. "Nabawasan kami ng sobrang laking pasanin, pero sobra namang saya."
"Itong gold medals namin, itong panalo namin para sa bayan ito," added the 23-year-old Aranar.
Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen accounted for the two other golds by winning the standard foxtrot and waltz.
But they failed to complete a Philippine sweep in the standard category after settling for a silver medal finish in quickstep which Vietnam won.
Six more golds are up for grabs in the latin category and two more in the inaugural breakdancing competition of the event that is making a comeback in the biennial meet after a 12-year absence.
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