Alpine skier Asa Bisquera Miller of the Philippines. –ASA MILLER INSTAGRAM
Alpine skier Asa Bisquera Miller will be the lone entry of Team Philippines in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where he will shoot for medals in two events while carrying the hope of a tropical country.
The 21-year-old Miller will see action in the men’s slalom on Feb. 14 and the giant slalom on February 17, both on the slopes of high-altitude Yanqing, China, which is 1.5 hours from Beijing.
“This is Miller’s second stint in the [Winter] Olympics. Judging from his previous competitions last year, I believe he’ll perform better,’’ said the California-based Jim Apelar, the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation president who has been helping several Filipino-American athletes represent the country in the Winter Games for over two decades.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Miller used the upland regions of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado as training grounds to improve on his 70th ranking out of 140 skiers in the previous Winter Games in 2018 Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“We’re very lucky to have a qualifier in Asa. This is magical for a tropical country like ours,’’ said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol’’ Tolentino during Wednesday’s online Pandesal Forum.
Among Southeast Asian countries, only Thailand, Malaysia and Timor Leste were also able to book spots for their athletes to the Games on February 4 to 20.
Four other aspirants from the Philippines failed to pass the qualifying grade—figure skaters Michael Martinez, Sofia Frank, Edrian Celestino and speed skater Julian Macaraeg.
Miller and his coach, Will Gregorak, will fly to Beijing on Jan. 28 with Apelar and the POC staff led by Team Philippines chef de mission Bones Floro.