Fernando Casares successfully defended the men’s title after Kim Mangrobang failed in her bid for a fourth straight gold medal in women’s triathlon on Monday at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.

Casares clocked in 58 minutes and 33.5 seconds to clinch the gold medal, defeating Indonesia’s Rashif Yaqin (58:47) in the 750m swim-20km bike-5km run men’s event at the Kep Beach Resort.

Andrew Kim Remolino finished third in 59:53 for the bronze, Cebuano’s second medal following a silver finish in men’s aquathlon last Saturday.

Mangrobang, who topped the women’s duathlon race last Sunday, clocked 1:07:24 to finish second behind Cambodian naturalized entry Margot Garabedian, who clocked one hour, five minutes and 34.2 seconds.

Garabedian is a former French triathlete currently ranked 190th in the world.

Singapore’s Louisa Marie Middleditch reached the podium in third (1:07:24) in the swim-bike-run endurance race.

Raven Alcoseba placed fourth (1:08:49.1), more than three minutes behind the 27-year-old Garabedian.

The Philippines bagged three out of the possible seven gold medals in aquathlon (3), duathlon (2) and triathlon (2) and a pair of silvers from Remolino in men’s aquathlon and Mangrobang.

The PH mixed aquathlon relay team of Erika Burgos, Inaki Lorbes, Kira Ellis and Matthew Hermosa likewise bagged a gold medal. (PNA)