THE Philippine mixed doubles curling team is on a hot streak, keeping its unbeaten slate going in Harbin, China to reach the quarterfinal round at the 9th Asian Winter Games on Wednesday at the Pingfang Curling Arena.
After beating world No. 13 South Korea, 12-2, and No. 45 Kyrgyzstan, the unranked Filipino-Swiss Marc Pfister and Filipino-American Kathleen Dubberstein defeated Qatar’s Mabarka Al-Abdulla and Nasser Abdulrah Alyafei, 11-3, for their third consecutive victory in Group B.
“We just kept the same attitude heading to the next games. Our goal is to win all our round-robin games and possibly sweep it,” said Dubberstein.
The 30-year-old electrical engineering graduate from Wisconsin, United States is confident of reaching the podium with the top three nations in each of the two brackets progressing to the next round.
“Qatar is also a developing nation in curling just like us. Our game with them was a good experience.” said Dubberstein, who will also suit up Sunday in the opening round of women’s curling.
The Philippines has been battling the host nation and world No. 15 China as of posting in the evening.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Secretary General Wharton Chan cheered for the Filipino mixed duo, expressing confidence for a potential medal in the sport.
“Very impressive and their confidence is growing. To win a medal, they have stay that way,” Tolentino said.
On Thursday, the Philippines plays No. 33 Kazakhstan at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Tolentino announced that speed skater Peter Groseclose and Dubberstein will be the flag-bearers in the opening ceremony on Friday at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center.
“Peter [Groseclose] already represented us in several overseas competitions, especially in the last year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games, while Kathleen is the other best available athlete as flag-bearer,” Tolentino said.
Groseclose, prior to the opening ceremony in the evening, will be competing in the morning qualifying heats of the 1,500 meters, 100m and 500m short track speed skating events beginning at 9 a.m. at the Heilongjiang Ice Events Training Center Multifunctional Hall.
Team Philippines has brought to the games 20 athletes, who will vie for medals with 33 other participating Asian nations with a combined total of 1,275 athletes set to compete in 11 sports, including 64 events.
Aside from Groseclose and Dubberstein, the other Filipino athletes for the Asian Winter Games, guided by PH Chef de Mission Ricky Lim, are figure skaters Paolo Borromeo, Cathryn Limketkai, Sofia Frank and the pair of Isabella Gamez and Alexander Korovin.
The men’s curling squad is composed Benjo Delarmente, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister and Pfister, while the women’s side will be represented by Anne Bonache, Dubberstein, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano and Jessica Pfister.