Wrestler Jason Balabal wins his first match against Phachaxay Phonexay of Laos in the men’s 84kg event at the Southeast Asian Games Thursday.(Albert Gar

PALEMBANG, Indonesia – With just 19 gold medals out of 245 disputed in 12 disciplines halfway through the 26th Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines is looking at perhaps at another disastrous campaign.

Although the country had no entries in a number of events, like roller sports and vovinam, it’s indisputable that Filipino athletes have lagged behind since winning the overall title with 113 golds when the country hosted the SEA Games in 2005.

None best exemplified the slide than in swimming where not a single gold was won from the 38 that were disputed and in athletics where only two were collected from 46 events.

Swimmer Ryan Arabejo, the only defending champion in the team, finished second in his favorite event, the 1,500-meter freestyle, the same race he previously won twice in succession. The only other swimming silver came from Jessie Lacuna in the men’s 200-meter freestyle.

Swimming has been hampered by lack of talent following the retirement of Miguel Molina and the absence of key Fil-American standouts particularly sprinter Daniel Coakley.

The sport has also been buffeted by internal problems with several factions criticizing the leadership, accusing it of favoritism and being exclusive instead of inclusive.

It has become apparent that the current program at home, despite millions being spent for development, is not working although swimming has one of the most modern training facilities in the region – the TRACE College in Los Baños, Laguna.

Dorothy Grace Hong, newly-reinstated to the team, won three bronzes, as did the freestyle relay team composed of Jose Gonzales, Lee Anderson, Arabejo and Lacuna that accounted for two bronzes.

Two years ago in Laos, the swimmers came home with four gold medals – two by Molina, six silvers and one bronze.

Athletics probably performed even worse. Forget the fact that none of its star athletes are anywhere near Asian Games standard but in the SEA Games, track and field have previously been the best performer, averaging about six gold medals each time. Last time, in 2009 in Laos, it won seven golds.

At the end of the track competition, the PATAFA squad won just two gold medals, a strong indication that an overhaul, both in leadership and talent pool, must be initiated immediately.

Two years ago, athletics won seven gold medals in Laos. This time, besides the two golds, it will settled for nine silvers and five bronzes.

Of the seven returning champions, only long jumper Marestella Torres and steeplechase specialist Rene Herrera stepped on top of the podium. Like the others, these two athletes may have performed their last hurrah.