By Ricky Fernandez
Auckland / Bangkok — Filipino-Kiwi cricketer Josef “Jay” Doctora has added another milestone to his growing international career, helping the Philippine men’s cricket team — the Carabaos — secure a silver medal in the T20 event at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Philippines clinched the silver with a dramatic one-wicket victory over host nation Thailand, edging them 156/9–153/7 at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok. The result capped a resilient SEA Games campaign for the Carabaos, who finished runners-up behind eventual champions Malaysia.
The silver-medal finish marks another proud moment for Doctora, Filipino-Kiwi cricketer who grew up in West Auckland. He has been a regular representative of the Philippines national team since making his international debut in 2023.
“All glory to God. Without God’s blessings and guidance – I don’t think we would’ve come this far,” Josef Doctora said in an exclusive interview with Filipino News NZ.
“It brought us a lot of joy and happiness when we won the silver medal.”
Nerve-wracking finish against Thailand
Chasing 153 for victory, the Philippines built early momentum through disciplined batting and sharp running between the wickets. However, Thailand mounted a late resistance in the middle overs, dismissing several Filipino batsmen in quick succession to push the match into a tense final over.
Doctora played a key role late in the chase, smashing a six that brought the Philippines within two runs of victory before being dismissed for the ninth wicket. With the match on a knife’s edge, the Carabaos held their nerve.
Grant Russ eventually sealed the win with a boundary, clinching silver for the Philippines and sparking celebrations among players and staff.
Daniel Smith anchored the innings with 41 runs, while Russ contributed 33, including the match-winning shot.
A resilient SEA Games campaign
The Carabaos’ path to the podium was far from straightforward. The Philippines opened its SEA Games campaign with a heavy setback against Malaysia, suffering a 114-run loss after being bowled out for 87 while chasing a daunting 201-run target.
Rather than letting the result derail their campaign, the team regrouped quickly, stringing together crucial wins that revived their medal hopes.
The Carabaos first defeated higher-ranked Singapore, before delivering a dominant performance against Indonesia, posting 182/5 and bowling their opponents out for 104 to secure a convincing 78-run victory.
Those results set up a decisive final-round clash against Thailand, with silver still within reach.
A milestone year for Doctora
The SEA Games silver comes just weeks after Doctora was honoured as Filipino-Kiwi Sportsperson of the Year at the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Auckland, recognising his contributions both on the field and within the Filipino community in New Zealand.
Since taking up cricket at the age of 14, Doctora has built an impressive playing résumé, competing in New Zealand’s competitive club scene and representing the Philippines across Asia, including World Cup qualifiers in Papua New Guinea.
He has also been actively working to grow the sport locally, with plans underway to create a pathway for young Filipino-Kiwis to engage with the game. www.extend.store
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