(UPDATE) NO amount of moral victories, as much as he appreciates it, could ever make Filipino pole vault ace Ernest John 'EJ' Obiena feel less frustrated about his 2024 season, which he ended prematurely due to his spine injury.

'What's there to congratulate? The Milo team congratulated me when I met them, and I said 'for what?' and I mean that with all my heart. I know, I do believe that I could have won at least a [bronze] medal. I know the year has been very tough but life goes on,' said Obiena at the renewal of his contract as Milo brand ambassador on Monday at the Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites.