Hanoi—It was a relatively quiet day for Filipino athletes in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, when the biennial meet officially started with a spectacular opening ceremony at the My Dinh National Stadium.
But help is on the way on Friday, with the big guns, led by world champion Carlos Yulo, Asian Games gold medalist Lois Kaye Go, rising junior tennis sensation Alex Eala, ONE Championship veteran Gina Iniong-Aras and the professional cage stars from 3×3 champion Limitless Appmasters plunging into action in several fronts.
Aside from kickboxing, where Pinoy fighters are assured of at least six more medals, badminton, 3×3 basketball, billiards and snookers, bodybuilding, chess, esports, fencing, golf, gymnastics, sepak takraw, table tennis, tennis, wushu, and indoor volleyball get going, hours after the opening ceremonies at the My Dinh National Stadium, with pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena leading the way for 31 members of Team Philippines.
The 22-year-old Yulo, the most bemedalled Pinoy athlete in the 2019 Philippine SEAG with two golds and five silver medals, kicks off his campaign Friday in the men’s artistic gymnastics competition—the first of four golds Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion-Norton predicts the Tokyo Olympics veteran will win in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here.
“I’m confident he (Yulo) will win at least a minimum of four gold medals,” Carrion-Norton said. “Everybody’s afraid and watching Caloy in training here.”
The Tokyo Olympics veteran begins his campaign in the men’s all-around event at 10 a.m. at the Quan Ngura Sports Palace here against 12 other gymnasts from five countries—two from Malaysia, one each from Indonesia and Thailand, two from Singapore and four from host Vietnam —in the artistic gymnastics men’s all-around qualifying round.
Also hogging the spotlight are golfers Go, teen sensation Rianne Malixi and Mafy Singson, along with entries in esports where the country is among the favorites and wushu, which has been a solid source of gold medals for the country in the past.
Fresh off her second pro title at the International Tennis Federation W25 Chiang Rai in April, a stellar follow-up to her victory at the W15 Manacor in Spain in 2021, 16-year-old Eala debuts in the games in the team event at Hanaka Bac Ninh Tennis Complex. She is also slated to compete in the singles and mixed doubles.
Also expected to deliver gold medals are kick boxers Iniong-Aras and Jean Claude, the defending champions, along with Renalyn Dacquel, Gretel De Paz, Zeph Ngaya, and Claudine Veloso.
Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan believes the country can surpass the 2019 SEA Games haul of three gold medals, two silvers and a bronze in this year’s regional showpiece.
“Our athletes have done a tremendous performance and exceptional job despite fighting in a hostile terrain after beating several Vietnamese athletes,” Chan said. “I predict we can be at 80 percent or 5-of-6 or maybe 4-of-6 in winning golds in tomorrow’s finals. We can surpass the three golds last time.”
The Limitless App team that captured the title in the PBA 3×3 First Conference will be tested starting at 11 a.m. (12 noon Manila time) by Cambodia, followed by games against Thailand at 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Manila time), and Indonesia at 4:20 p.m. (5:20 p.m. Manila time).
Making up the men’s national quartet are Brandon Rosser, Marvin Hayes, Jorey Napoles and Raymar Caduyac, who are out to duplicate the gold medal winning feat of CJ Perez, Mo Tautuaa, Jason Perkins and Chris Newsome in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games.
The defending champion Gilas women’s squad faces Cambodia at 12 noon (1 p.m. Manila time), Vietnam at 3 p.m. (4 p.m. Manila time), and Thailand at 5:20 p.m. (6:20 p.m. Manila time).
From third in the medal standings, the Philippines slid to fourth, giving way to Indonesia that won three gold medals Thursday. Vietnam continued to show the way with 10, pursued by Malaysia with 9, while Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar also crashed the gold medal column with one each.
PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez again motivated the 641 athletes who will see action in 38 sports to maintain focus and give their best to seize make the nation proud.
“Let’s encourage our athletes, let’s pray for them. They have prepared hard for this, it’s their time to shine now,’’ said Fernandez, the national team’s chef de mission.
“I’m pretty much optimistic that our standings will improve as the games come along. We’re hoping and praying. They have to focus and they know what to do. These games are all about the athletes,’’ said Fernandez.
The PSC funded the full participation of the 980-strong Philippine delegation in these Games, which the nation ruled in 2019.
More than half of the Philippine contingent has arrived with athletes from archery, beach volleyball, dancesport, esports, sepak takraw, fencing, and swimming checking in Thursday.