Home country advantage is there, but that alone will not get more wins. As it takes every two years, the previous games took place in 2017. That year Malaysia is the one that hosted the game and they are the one to top the table with more than three hundred medals. In that Philippines have come 6th in the table with a total of 121 medals. With such a massive difference between 1st and 6th it is truly hard for Philippines to be the on the medal table.
news that I just learned about the 30th South East Asian Games in the Philippines about some of the facilities will interfere with the concentration of athletes, the readiness of the Philippines to host is still not 100%. I'm sure the athletes will be mentally disturbed so it is difficult to get maximum results.
yes I read some bad news about their preparation as a host, many participants were displaced, even in terms of food too. this really damages the mentality of the participants.
with the highest number athletes of Philippines , also they hosts, so they are likely to get more medals. but Thailand is quite good in the last 5 years of dominance.
also Indonesia can be a good competitor, with the second largest number of athletes under the host with 1702. I think hosts will get more medals.