MANILA - As the Philippines' national basketball squad slugged it out in the FIBA Asia championships, a Philippine team of another kind battled with other countries in Tianjin, China.

This team was a group of young Filipino math wizards, who outclassed their opponents from China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong in two math competitions held in the Chinese city.

In a statement Sunday, the Mathematics Trainers' Guild Philippines announced that the country's representatives to the 2009 China Junior High School Math Olympiad held from August 5-9, and the 2009 China Primary Math Olympiad for elementary students held from August 9-14 did the nation proud with an 89-medal haul.

The country won 9 silvers and 34 bronzes in the China Junior contest, while in the China Primary, the country won 6 silvers and 40 bronze medals.

"MTG is very proud that Filipino students have again won in international math contests. The two contests were difficult but our young math wizards rose above the challenge and triumphed," MTG President Dr. Simon Chua was quoted as saying.

The medal haul was an improvement from last year's 85, the MTG said. Also, in this year's China Primary contest, all 46 delegates from the Philippines each won a medal.

The country’s silver medalists in the China Junior High School contest are: Kate Andrea Bonamy of Grace Christian College (who won two silver medals), Maedeliene Uy of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Kyle Justin Meguizo of St. Jude Catholic School, Erik Lance Astillero of Chiang Kai Shek College, Jarvin Tan of UNO High School, RJ Lawrence Tiu and Hubert Yao of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, and Emmanuel Gerard Chiu of Silliman University.

The bronze medalists in the contest are: Eugene Lester Lin and Astillero of Chiang Kai Shek College, Tan and Steven Matthew Cheng of UNO High School, Tiu and Yao of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Shaun Wesley Que and Jeremy Vance Yap of Grace Christian College, Brian James Masalunga of Naga Hope Christian School, John Reinier Bulaong of Ateneo De Naga University, Maria Isabel Grau of Colegio San Agustin-Makati, Kathrine Lorenzena Saniel of St. Mary’s School, Ma. Joenelle Grace Plotena of Trinity Christian School, and Chiu of Silliman University;

Rommel Alcantara of Manresa School, Jon Rubert Yap, Mario Juvenal Onglao III and Aaron Jevon Anthony Dy of Xavier School, Ian Chesterson Lim, Kennichi Tan, Maedeliene Uy, Antonie Kyla Lim and Antonie Kyna Lim of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Olsen John Ong of Trinity Christian School, Ross Jervin Ruiz of Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao, Paul Stephen Pakson of Philippine Science High School-Central Visayas, Jann Eric Niño Manglapus of Philippine Christian Gospel School, Kyle Justin Meguizo of St. Jude Catholic School, and Mary Ann Docuyanan of St. Augustine’s School-Zambales). Some of them won two medals.

The six silver medalists in the elementary contest are Jason Joseph Fernandez of San Beda College Alabang, Aljan Balbuena of Tenement Elementary School, Hans Bryan Geremy Ong of Grace Christian College, Jason Carlo Carranceja of Grace Christian College, Karli Ang of Philippine Institute of Quezon City and Jose Alfron Benedicto Batiles of Elizabeth Seton School-South.

The 40 bronze medalists are Miege Ernyl Alarcon of San Beda College Alabang, Timothy Gabriel Alarcon of Southville International School & Colleges, Vince Roi Alvarez of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, Nathaniel Ryan Ang of Philadelphia School, John Angel Aranas of Maximo Estrella Elementary School, Harry Eugenio Ares Jr. of Integrated Montessori Center, Nathanael Joshua Balete of St. Stephen's High School, Vincent Jaime Benitez of Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo, Irene Therese Bermejo of Trinity Christian School, Hannah Faye Canonigo of Integrated Montessori Center, Ethan Riley Chan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Marx Vincent Cobol of Ateneo de Davao University, Niel Marc Dasas of Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo, Joseph Maria Francis De Leon of Blessed Lights International Christian Academy;

Gail Denise Destura of La Salle Academy, Royce Dy of Kong Hua School, Angelo Miguel Eduarte of St. Simon Montessori School, King James Fetalvero of Ateneo de Davao University, AJ Wincielou Johanna Gabin of Holy Spirit School- Tagbilaran City, Jasmine Marie Gamboa of St. John's Institute Bacolod, Thamania Keith Gumilao of Pasig Catholic College, Anchelle Grace Ho of Silliman University, Anna Francis Therese Jaruda of West Visayas State University, Adrian Jude Jumangit of Elizabeth Seton School-South, Karl Jan Kotah of Philippine Cultural College, Marion Antonio Lim of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Tonita Mari Lim of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Ma. Louisa Madrid of Cavite School of Life, Himig Marcos of Philippine Cultural College;

Rafael Adraino Nalupta of Immaculate Conception Academy, Christian Rey Notario of Guinobatan East Central School, Eloisa Jean Remoreras of Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center, Katrina Alexandra Renacia of Siliman University, Miguel Luis Rivera of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, Akkiara Symonn May Sawali of St. Augustine's School, Bianca Patrice Syching of Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Ethan Fredric Tan of Xavier School, Paolo Adrian Taneña of SPED-ISEC,  Justin Adriel Zent Togonon of Children Intergrated School of Alta Tierra and Patricia Marie Yap of Iloilo Central Commercial High School.