MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine delegation to the Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, will be in shape three months ahead of the competitions.

That’s how serious the Philippine Olympic Committee is in its bid to rule the inaugural edition of the 45-nation meet after submitting a total of 132 RP team slots to the Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC) over the weekend.

Philippine chief of mission Vince Piccio said the nationals will compete in 13 of the 17 sports to be contested during the games on Oct. 18 to 26.

Piccio said he would fill the slots with names before the Sept. 17 deadline.

A total of 44 coaches and officials, eight administrative personnel and a four-man medical team will be part of the 188-strong delegation.

“We have to show the organizers how serious we are,” said Piccio, president of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines.

“Our participation is very critical because they will use it as a barometer for our hosting.”

The Philippines will host the fourth edition of the games in 2014 after Muscat, Oman, plays host in 2010 and Haiyang, China, takes its turn in 2012.

The popular sports where the Filipinos are expected to be in contention are beach volleyball, surfing, sailing and beach football. Piccio said the country has no entries in paragliding, jet ski and handball.

About 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 45 Asian countries will compete at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana grounds in Jim-baran, Bali for the maiden edition of the biennial meet.

Filipinos are also vying in beach wrestling, sepak takraw, pencak silat, bodybuilding, dragonboat racing, marathon swimming, windsurfing, triathlon and wood ball.