MANILA, Philippines — Amid his controversial row with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA), EJ Obiena ended 2021 with a bang as he cemented himself as one of the world’s top pole vaulters. Obiena, who broke the national record multiple times in 2021 and reached the men’s pole vault final in the Tokyo Olympics, was ranked third by World Athletics for men’s pole vault for the year. The 26-year-old found himself sharing the spot with two other vaulters, Sam Kendricks and Timur Morgunov with season bests of 5.93m. At the top of the pack is still world record holder Mondo D…