Grassroots-powered archery squad confident of 5-gold romp

NEW CLARK CITY — A phalanx of young, spunky archers will try to stop the oncoming Malaysian juggernaut starting Thursday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at Parade Grounds here.

Team Philippines, empty handed in the past two Southeast Games, is confident to win at least five golds “right on our home turf.”

Malaysia topped the competitions the past two editions, winning five golds each in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

“We have a good chance; we should win the golds,” said World Archery Philippines secretary general Rosendo Sombrio. “The countries who are here are the same countries we faced in the Asia Cup.”

Leading the charge are 16-year-old Monica Binaure and Youth Olympic Games doubles event gold winner Gab Moreno.

The 16-strong Philippine delegation is mostly young with members graduating from WAP’s grassroots program.

But providing experience is 54-year-old Jennifer Chan.

The Olympian and three-time Southeast Asian Games champ clinched a berth in the national squad on account of her silver medal win in this year’s Asia Cup in Chinese Taipei.

There are 10 golds at stake each in the recurve and compound disciplines.