PH bets start arriving in small groups

SINGAPORE—Filipino athletes have to arrive here in trickles with the bulk of the Philippine delegation to the 28th Southeast Asian Games expected to hit town in the next few days.

The Philippine sailing team was the first to check in over a week ago while the men’s football squad—the under-23 version of the Azkals—has started to  warm up for the challenge ahead after coming in four days earlier in this tiny city-state considered one of the world’s major commercial hubs.

“We’re getting ready for the arrival of our athletes. We want to make sure there won’t be distractions along the way,” said Philippine chief of mission Julian Camacho.

The women’s netball squad, led by Teresa Angeline Aquino, Danielle Michiko Castaneda and former volleyball star Michelle Datuin, will open the country’s bid in these Games today against Thailand at the OCBC Arena Hall 1, five days before the opening ceremony.

Synchronized swimmers Allyssa Marey Salvador and Jemimah Nissi Tiambeng arrived Saturday as well as table tennis players Richard Gonzales, Ryan Jacolo, Rodel Ireneo Valle, Sendrina Balatbat and Ian Lariba.

Pinoy entries from canoeing, traditional boat racing, fencing, gymnastics and equestrian are due Sunday in time for the flag-raising ceremony on June 2 to mark the official opening by Singapore of its doors for the event.

The swimmers, archers, boxers, judokas, shooters, triathlon and athletes from softball, petanque, billiards and snooker, rugby sevens, wushu and tennis will arrive on June 5.

The Philippine delegation is down to 462 athletes from 35 sports with netball’s Kristina Jean Cruz and wushu’s Dave Degala (taolu) suffering injuries.