MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ young shuttlers hope to salvage some pride when they start their campaign in the individual competition of the 14th ASEAN Schools Badminton Championships on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Coach Ronald Magnaye said the country will pin its hopes on his son Peter Gabriel and Joeffer Escueta in the boys’ event, and Gelita Castillo and Camille Yang in the girls’ category.

“When we picked Thailand in the team competition, we were reduced to just hoping for the best,” said Magnaye, who saw action in the 1991 and 1993 Southeast Asian Games. “But in the individual competitions, we will be tougher.”

Magnaye, also a bronze medalist in the doubles in the 1991 Arafura Games, hopes the crowd will show up in the stands. Assisting him is top RP player Lloyd Escoses.

Escueta, 14, won a Palarong Pambansa gold medal each in the elementary and high school. He also bagged a bronze in the doubles competitions last year in the Cheers Singapore youth invitational.

A gold medalist in the Cheers Singapore 14-under doubles event, Castillo said she would give it her best in the knockout system competitions where each of the six countries can field two entries per event.

Meanwhile, reigning Asian junior champion Thailand reached the finals of the boys’ and girls’ team competition, against Malaysia and defending champion Indonesia, respectively.