Photo from Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino/Facebook

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was overwhelmed with emotions as Philippines clinches its first-ever gold medal in the Asian Winter Games.

The men's curling team of Marc Pfister, Enrico Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller and Benjo Delarmente defeated South Korea, 5-3, in the championship match Friday to snag not just the country, but any Southeast Asian athlete's best-ever finish in the Games.

"This is too good to be true," Tolentino expressed. "Shocking, that’s the least I can say. Now, the path is clearer toward our first medal in the Winter Olympics."

READ: Philippines shocks Korea, captures first-ever gold medal in Asian Winter Games

They are the best-performing Southeast Asian team in the 34-nation competition with Thailand clinching one bronze through Thai-Frenchman Paul Vieuxtemps in men’s slopestyle of freestyle skiing.

READ: Asian Winter Games: PH pulls off upset vs China to enter curling gold medal match

The Harbin Winter Games, Tolentino said, were meant to be the springboard for the Philippines extending its success to the Winter Olympics.

“I always believe the impossible can be achieved,” Tolentino said. “We did it in Tokyo and Paris, and it may not come in Italy next year, but I believe we’re on the right track.”

The 25th Winter Olympics are set in Milano Cortina in February 2026 and with the gold medal as well as the promising performance of the 20-athlete team in Harbin, Tolentino said he’s hopeful the country can qualify medal potentials to Italy.