From best to worst.

The grim scenario looms for the Philippine contingent after another dismal day in the 24 th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand .

Filipino-American Cecil Mamiit delivered by retaining the men's tennis singles gold.

But that turned out to be solitary victory for the Filipinos, who slipped back to sixth again in the overall standings, a day before the closing ceremonies.

The 40-gold total is just one gold behind fifth-running Singapore , which seized two of its three for the day from sailing in Pattaya.

After finishing its campaign in a blaze of glory two years ago, Team RP may be headed for its worst-ever finish since joining the biennial meet in 1977.

The Philippines ended up fifth in 1999 and 2001. Sports officials, led by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, the RP chef de mission, earlier predicted a second-place finish for the RP bets only to switch to a more conservative prediction of third, following the uprising of Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Thailand is expected to capture the overall title with a whopping 168 golds --- a SEA Games record --- already in the bag.

The Vietnamese, who own 65 golds, are a far second, barely ahead of the Malaysians, while Indonesia has locked up fourth place with 54 victories.

The prospects of snaring any of the 12 golds at stake today are also grim unless Mamiit or any of the other remaining RP entries can conjure at least another miracle, like he did yesterday.

The No. 2-seeded Mamiit whipped Thai top seed Danai Udomchoke, 6-3, 6-0, at His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Tennis Center, before teaming up with Eric Taino to topple the Vietnamese squad of Do Minh Quh and Le Quoch Khanh, 6-3, 7-5.

The Filipino pair were to face Thai siblings Sanchai and Somchat Ritawatana, the No. 1 seed, in the finals.

Mamiit and Denise Dy were also set to appear in the mixed doubles finals against the second-seeded Thai duo of Sanchai Ratiwatana and Napaporn Tongsalee today.

While tennis enjoyed shining moments yesterday, taekwondo took a beating and wound up with their worst showing.

All four Filipino entries fell short of the gold, with Lorain Lorelei Catalan emerging the best performer by bagging the silver in taking a 2-3 loss to Malaysia 's Elaine Teo in the women's -51-kilogram class.

Japoy Lizardo, 2005 SEA Games gold medalist, was the first to get the boot, not surprisingly, to a Thai opponent in the men's -54-kg. quarterfinals.

The tae kwondo heartthrob absorbed a 0-2 setback from Khawlaor Chutchawal.

BRONZE FOR BACOLOD JIN

Teammates Carlos Padilla V of Bacolod City and Kathleen Eunice Allora managed to hurdle the quarters but also took a licking to separate Thai foes in the semifinal round to settle for bronze medals.

Padilla was drubbed by Tewawetchapong Nattapong, 0-4, in the men's -58-kg. semis.

Padilla got off to a promising start by beating Singapore 's Jason Ong, 4-0, in the quarterfinals.

BEACH VOLLEY BETS OUSTED

In beach volleyball, Pulupandan's Rhovyl Verayo and Parley Tupaz, the last remaining hope in the event, took a 21-17, 21-19 loss to the Indonesian pair of Andy Ardiyansah and Koko Darkunkoro at the His Majesty the King's 80th Birth Anniversary court.

Bacoleña Michelle Laborte and Michelle Carolino and Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua were shown the door in the quarterfinals of the women's side yesterday.*CPT

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