The Philippines bagged four golds yesterday but slipped further back in the overall standings as Indonesia and Malaysia whipped up a storm in the 24 th SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand .

Former world champion Ronnie Alcano ruled billiards' 8-ball singles, while diver Sheila Mae Perez and boxer Annie Albania and the women's compound team in archery kept their titles.

The victories improved the Filipinos' total haul to 33.

Hauling golds in weightlifting and their own invention, the martial art of pencak silat, the Indonesians accumulated a total of 37 titles and moved to within just one of fourth-running Singapore .

Malaysia made headway, replacing Singapore at third after triumphs in lawn bowls and karatedo. Malaysia now has 43 golds to trail second-running Vietnam by 14.

With three more days before the SEA Games ends, host Thailand surpassed the Philippines' 113-gold output when it won the title two years ago as it jacked up its gold tally to 117.

Amaya Paz, already winner of archery's compound individual the day before, led Dumaguete's Jennifer Chan and Abbigail Tindugan over an Indonesian trio, 220-212, in their morning finals.

Alcano, who won both the 15-ball singles and doubles two years ago in Manila , overcame Singaporean Choon Kiat Tey, 9-6.

Tey tied the game at 6 before Alcano sealed the win by taking the last three racks.

Perez, who won the 1m and 3m springboards and teamed up with Ceseil Domenios for the 3m synchronized golds in 2005, registered 316.60 points, almost 10 better than second-placed Malaysian Mun Lee Yeong.

It was Albania who hammered out the most convincing win of the day as she scored a first round knockout win over Thai Hansa Kadeewong for the flyweight gold.

The win prevented a Thai sweep of the seven golds staked in women's boxing, which was hounded of alleged pro-Thai scoring.

The Philippines also won 10 silvers, one coming from taekwondo jin Marie Antoinette Rivero, who lost a controversial decision to a Thai in the under-67kg division finals.

The men's traditional boat team, bannered by E.B. Magalona athletes, also settled for second in the 1km event.

Meanwhile, Bacolod-born cager Jeff Chan scored 12 points on four triples in the Philippines ' runaway 108-60 win over Malaysia that virtually wrapped up the SEAG basketball title at the Suranaree University of Technology Stadium.

It was the third straight lopsided victory in as many games for the Filipinos, who are assured of retaining the basketball gold for the eight straight time since 1991. *CPT

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