Jericho Francisco proves to be prophetic as PH sweeps park golds in SEA Games skateboard

CHONBURI, Thailand – Skateboarder Jericho Francisco Jr. spoke it into existence.

Just as Francisco predicted, the Philippines swept the park events as he and his student, Mazel Paris Alegado, scored a double gold in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games at the SAT Extreme Sports Park in Bangkok on Saturday, December 13.

Francisco topped the men’s park to replicate his triumphant feat on home soil in 2019, while Alegado ruled the women’s park to become the youngest Filipino gold medalist in this edition at 11 years old.

Another one of his mentees, 11-year-old Elizabeth Amador, earned the women’s park silver to seal a 1-2 finish for the Philippines in the event.

“I can’t believe it, to be here with the gold medal and my students in here with the gold medal also and the silver medal,” said Francisco. “A month and a half ago, I already told the boss that we were going to sweep it. I already knew it and I can’t believe that we did it.”

While clinching the gold is already rewarding on its own, getting to win together with his students proved even more fulfilling for the 24-year-old Francisco.

A professional skateboard instructor, Francisco played a pivotal role in the development of both Alegado and Amador.

“I’ve been training these girls since they were little, little kids,” said Francisco. “I’ve actually seen Elizabeth do her first frontside grind. I’ve been with Maizel since she could barely do a one-foot backside air. And now we’re here with gold medals and medals together and I can’t believe it.”

For Francisco, their triumphs are proof of Filipinos’ talent.

“It just shows that us Filipinos can do it and we can be on top. No matter if we have limited resources or not, we can do it and we can compete with the best,” he said. – Rappler.com