UCLA rising junior Emma Malabuyo recorded the highest-ever placement by a Filipina gymnast at the Asian Championships in Singapore Sunday, winning silver on floor exercise with a score of 13.166, just 0.067 off first place. Malabuyo also competed in the balance beam final, placing fifth overall with a score of 12.166.

Emma Malabuyo ???? / FX apparatus final

SILVER ??
Score: 13.166 (4.9 D / 8.266 E)#AsianChampionships #Singapore2023 pic.twitter.com/VeaSp5rxmF

— LV (@tokensoutherner) June 18, 2023

Malabuyo earned her spots in the event finals after strong performances in the qualifying round. She had the No. 5 qualifying score on floor with a 13.033. On balance beam, her mark of 12.300 ranked No. 13 overall, and she moved from the first reserve role into a competing spot after Dildora Aripova of Uzbekistan was scratched.

.@EmmaMalabuyo finished just shy of qualifying to event finals on beam at the Asian Championships, her first elite competition in two years. pic.twitter.com/vUQGDSCHvY

— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) June 16, 2023

This was Malabuyo's first elite competition since the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, after which she was selected as an alternate for the Olympic Games. It's her first international medal since winning silver on balance beam and floor exercise at the 2019 City of Jesolo Trophy.
 
Thanks to Malabuyo's silver, Aleah Finnegan's two bronze medals and Carlos Yulo's five medals, the Philippines finished the Championships with the second-most medals.