PATTAYA, Thailand – Philippine sports officials expressed confidence about the delegation’s chances of surpassing the country's fifth-place finish from the last edition of the Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippines has brought in the largest delegation in its history in the biennial competition of more than 1,600 athletes, and the POC and the PSC are optimistic about an excellent performance from the athletes that would at least equal the 2023 placing that led to 58 gold, 86 silver and 116 bronze medals.
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“The goal is to match the output in Cambodia,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino after emerging from the Southeast Asian Games Federation council meeting at the Grand Four Winds Hotel in Bangkok.
“Sa akin, siyempre, better than the last SEA Games ang performance natin. Mahirap humanap ng target kasi depende rin sa napanalunan ng iba. Ako dun tayo sa ranking,” said PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, who was in the stands in the men’s handball game between the Philippines and Vietnam at the Indoor Athletics Stadium Pattaya.
Tolentino stressed that Thailand will also be out to take the overall championship in its home turf, especially in the sports that requires judging.
“We’re sure about that so I told our athletes in combat sports to go for the knockout, submission or a decisive victory,” Tolentino said.
While he hopes that the Philippines would crack the Top Four, Gregorio is also glad that part of the delegation are a couple of young athletes that will get the needed exposure in international competitions.
“Right from the start when we sent a very, very good delegation, alam naman natin na exposure is also very important, aside from the medal hail. Let’s prepare for the SEA Games, as we prepare for the Asian Games and as we prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics. ‘Yan ang pinaka-importante sa akin. Minsan ang sports, it’s the opportunity to compete first,” said Gregorio.
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