VIENTIANE, Laos — Taekwondo competition in the 25th Southeast Asian Games ended Saturday with the Philippines getting a fair share of four gold, four silver and four bronze medals.

It was a marked improvement from the lone gold medal won by Tshomlee Go in Thailand two years ago, but John Paul Lizardo’s defeat in the final day of the event tempered the celebration.

“I thought the two warnings Japoy (Lizardo) received were uncalled for,” said national coach Rocky Samson. “The two warnings resulted in automatic point for his opponent. Malaking bagay ito, especially if the match involves two good players.”

Lizardo, the 2008 Asian silver medalist, settled for the silver medal against Jerranat Nakaviroj of Thailand in the finweight division.

The Philippines finished third overall behind Thailand and Vietnam.

Thailand was most productive with six golds, three silvers and four bronzes while Vietnam picked up five golds, four silvers and two bronzes.

“Team-wise, we exceeded our expectations, but we thought some of our athletes did enough to win more,” Samson said.

Go won his third straight gold medal in the Games to lead RP’s winners.

The others are Mary Antoinette Rivero, Alexander Briones and the women’s poomsae team composed of Rani Ann Ortega, Camille Alarilla and Janice Lagman.

Ortega, Alarilla and Lagman competed in their first tournament after winning the world poomsae championship last month in Cairo, Egypt.

The silvers were won by Lizardo, Eunice Alora, Kirstie Alora and Marlon Avenido.

Jeffrey Figueroa, Jyra Lizardo, the men’s poomsae squad of Anthony Matias, Brian Sabido and Jean Sabido and the mixed poomsae tandem of Ortega and Jean Sabido collected the bronze medals.

After the Christmas break, Samson said a national selection tournament will be held next month to determine the composition of the team that will train for the Asian Games in China.

“All the national athletes, including the medalists will have to go through the elimination process,” Samson said.