Phnom Penh—Team Philippines formally opens its campaign for a better finish in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here, with obstacle racing expected to deliver two sure golds.
Hours after the games were formally declared open Friday at the Morodok Techo Stadium,
Filipino athletes, who are backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, plunge into action Saturday in 17 disciplines, led by the obstacle racers
in the finals of the men’s and women’s individual 100m events at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center Car Park starting at 8 a.m.
Kevin Pascua, the inaugural champ of the event when it was staged in the Philippines in 2019, takes on countryman Mark Julius Rodelas in the men’s finals, even as Precious Cabuya and teammate Kaizen dela Serna clash for the women’s title.
The two sure mints are expected to boost the medal tally of the Philippines that stood at 2-2-3 before Friday’s opening ceremonies.
Hosting the games for the first time, Cambodia led all the 11 nations with a 5-4-0 golf-silver-bronze tally.
Also hoping to boost Team Philippines’ medal haul are entries from athletics, swimming, 3×3 basketball, boxing, cycling, e-sports, artistic gymnastics, karate, vovinam, pencak silat, pétanque, sepak takraw, soft tennis, tennis, aquathlon, and the demonstration sport of teqball.
Raven Alcoseba and Heart Quiambao take part in women’s aquathlon at the seaside town of Kep, a drive of more than three hours from the games’ hub here, while Kim Remolino and Josh Ramos compete in the men’s aquathlon.
The aquathlon sprint is a 500-meter swim and 2.5km run race, duathlon a 5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run event and triathlon covers 750m of swimming, 20km of biking and 5km of running.
Triathletes Kim Mangrobang, 31, and Fernando Casares will defend their crowns on Monday, with triathlon chief Tom Carrasco saying the duo has what it takes to extend the country’s domination of the sport that started in 2015 in Singapore.
“We are hoping to repeat our dominance, but we expect stiffer competition from all,” said Carrasco, adding they are setting their sights on three golds, “four if we are lucky.”
Duathlon races in both divisions will be held Sunday.
Marathoners Christine Hallasgo, Ruffa Sorongon, Richard Salano and Arlan Arbois kick off the country’s campaign in athletics in Sim Reap City.
Boxing, where Pinoy entries are among the favorites, gets going at the Chroy Changvar Convention Hall, with the draw to determine the opening matches set to be held later Friday.
Also to be held at the same venue are opening matches in karate, with Jamie Lim, the daughter of cage great Samboy Lim, determined to improve on her bronze-medal finish in Vietnam last year.
