Manila, Dec. 25 -- Ateneo de Manila University student Russel Je Ricaforte has proven why he deserves to be a part of the national team.

The 5-foot-10 discus thrower bagged a bronze medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games where he registered 53.54 meters, behind Malaysia's Muhammad Irfan Shamshuddin (60.23) and Thailand's Kiadpradid Srisai (53.82).

"It was amazing, I'm really happy that I took home the bronze medal. It was an honor standing on the podium and seeing the Philippine flag on the screen. It was a surreal moment," the 25-year-old Ricaforte said in an interview Thursday.

At the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships, one of the qualifiers for the country's representatives to the SEA Games, he won the gold medal with a throw...