Rhea May Rifani of the Philippines (bottom) is taken down by China’s Gong Jinlian during their 52 kilograms finals bout in sanshou Friday at the Indoor Games in Vietnam. The Chinese won to claim the gold medal. (Photo by TONY PIONILLA)

HANOI, Vietnam — The Philippines struck for three more medals – one silver in wushu and two bronzes in muaythai – Friday in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games here.

Rhea May Rifani settled for the silver, losing to eventual champion Gong Jinlian of China in the 52-kilogram sanshou, while Jay Harold Gregorio and Zaidi Laruan took the bronze in muay-thai.

Rifani, who entered the finals by ousting local bet Nguyen Thuy Ngan, was no match to the Chinese lass who floored the 24-year-old Baguio native in each of the first two rounds.

The Philippines collected a total of one gold, three silvers and five bronzes and lags behind its Southeast Asian counterparts in the medal tally.

Host Vietnam is at second overall behind China with 14-20-17, Thailand 8-8-27, Indonesia 3-2-13, Malaysia 2-3-7, Laos 1-4-13, and Cambodia 1-4-5. Singapore has 1-2-3 medals and Brunei 0-1-5.

Boxing, one of four sports supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, became the biggest achiever with the lone gold on the heroics of Annie Albania, a silver compliment of Mitchell Martinez, and a bronze courtesy of Josie Gabuco.

Albania received P30,000, Martinez P20,000 and Gabuco P10,000 from ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

“Mr. Pangilinan promised to give them cash bonuses if they win medals in the Asian Indoor Games,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson.

The 26-year-old Albania, silver medalist in the 2008 World boxing in China and gold medalist in the last two SEA Games in Manila and Thailand, beat Bangkok native Sopida Satumrum for the gold in the bantamweight division.

Swimmer Miguel Molina and muay-thai specialist Maricel Subang are also gunning for the gold in their respective events.

Bowling and chess which many thought would deliver the medals ended up a major disappointment despite the presence of battle-tested campaigners.

Bowling got only one bronze courtesy of former World Cup champion Engelberto Rivera in the men’s singles.

Chess, powered by veteran Olympians Grandmasters Rogelio Antonio, Mark Paragua, Catherine Perena and Shercila Cua were shut out from the medal race.