Mark Eddiva is all over Tin Lin Aung of Myanmar in their 70-kg sanshou final bout in wushu at the Southeast Asian Games in Laos last Thursday. Eddiva went on to win the gold medal. (Photo by ALBERT GARCIA)

VIENTIANE, Laos — The Philippines struck in athletics and wushu for three golds early Thursday to break the 30-gold medal barrier in its bid for a top three finish in the 25th Southeast Asian Games.

Danilo Fresnido regained his men’s javelin throw crown, breaking the Philippine record in the process.

The 37-year-old veteran threw the spear to 72.93 meters to beat his own record by nearly three meters. It was his third gold medal in the Games.

Fresnido did 65.64 meters and 67.45 meters in his first two attempts before nailing the winning throw on his third attempt.

Nontach Palanupat of Thailand settled for the silver in 67.68 meters while Sanya Buathong, the 2007 winner, took the bronze in 67.43 meters.

Wushu produced two golds courtesy of Mark Eddiva and Marianne Mariano.

Eddiva manhandled Tin Lin Aung of Myanmar in the men’s sanshou 70-kg final while Mariano defeated Nguyen Thi Oanh of Vietnam in the women’s sanshou 60-kg.

Eddiva, the 23-year-old former Asian champion, reached the gold medal bout by humbling Nguyen Van Tuan of Vietnam Monday.

The Filipinos, locked in a four-way race for third place, now have 32 golds for sixth place, just two down behind third-running Malaysia.

Vietnam, powered by six golds in pencak silat, zoomed on top of the medal standings with 74 golds, pulling away from Thailand which has 63.

Indonesia and Singapore had 33 golds apiece for fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Philippines picked up two silvers courtesy of Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero in the women’s 10,000-meter run in athletics and Benjie Rivera in the men’s sanshou 56kg. division.

Fetalvero clocked 36:15.66, nearly four minutes behind Indonesian Triyaningsih who crossed the finish in 32:49.47, a new Games record.

Vietnam’s Pham Thi Hien settled for the bronze in 36:57.86.

Julius Nierras, however, failed to defend his 400-meter crown when he finished fourth behind winner Mohd Zafril of Malaysia who clocked 47.11 seconds. Nierras timed 47.89 seconds.

In wushu, Rivera bowed to Laos’ Phoxay Aphailath in the final.

Judo produced two bronze medals through Karen Ann Solomon in the women’s over 63-kg. and Rick Senales in the men’s over 81-kg. class.

The Philippines shoots for three gold medals in the boxing finals later in the day and a gold medal in the women’s 9-ball pool singles.

Two-time Olympian Harry Tañamor fights Kaeo Pongrayoon of Thailand in the light-flyweight final, preceding the pinweight battle between Bill Vicera and Sikham Vongpakhoun of Laos.

Featherweight Charly Suarez clashes with Phal Sophat of Cambodia to rount out the Filipinos’ gold medal hopefuls.

Meanwhile, Amit goes for the country’s third gold medal in billiards when she tangles with Singapore’s Charlene Chai in the women’s 9-ball pool final.

In judo, Ruth Dugaduga reached the final of the women’s over 70-kg. bracket after beating Disiyana of Indonesia.