Published December 31, 2018, 6:00 AM by Nick Giongco

Female athletes claimed the spotlight during the 18th Asian Games that were co-hosted by the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palemmbang as the Philippines struck with four gold medals for a 19th place finish.

Hidilyn Diaz

Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz greased the path toward a fantastic finish for Team PH which wound up with a 4-2-15 tally when the curtains fell.

More women bets came up with glittering performances with Cebu-bred Marge Didal skating her way to a gold and golfer Yuka Saso setting the fairway ablaze in the individual event for another top finish.

Gold medallist Margielyn Didal of the Philippines bites her medal on the podium during the victory ceremony for the women’s skateboard street event during the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang (Mohd RASFAN / AFP)

Saso’s medal was only the country’s second individual gold in the sport after Ramon Brobio’s brilliant play in the 1986 edition in Seoul.

On the strength of her sterling play, Saso earned another gold by towing the women’s team to another crowning achievement. Joining Saso at the victory podium were Louise Kay Go and Bianca Pagdanganan, who also came up with a bronze in the individual.

Yuka Saso, Kaye Lois Go and Bianca Pagdanganan after bagging two golds and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games.

The two silvers were brought home by boxer Rogen Ladon and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe while the bronzes came from wushu, boxing, pencak silat, BMX cycling, taekwondo, karate, jiu jitsu.

Kyomi Watanabe of the Philippines won against Gankhaich Bold of Mongolia in Judo during the 18th Asian Games JCC Complex in Jakarta. (PSC photo)

While the Philippine Olympic Committee had looked forward to a 15th place windup, the four gold medal performance matched the country’s output in 1978 (Bangkok), 1986 (Seoul) and 2006 (Doha).

In Incheon in 2014, the Philippines had one gold to show: Caluag’s in BMX.

Tags: Hidilyn Diaz , Marge Didal , Philippine Olympic Committee , Rogen Ladon , Yuka Saso