John Viron Ferrer seeks shinier SEA Games medal in Hanoi

The Philippines’ Shugen Nakano (in white) is one of the favorites for the gold medal in Vietnam. —SHERWIN VARDELEON

John Viron Ferrer, a bronze medalist in judo in the last Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), kept himself in peak form during the pandemic with the help of national coach Gilbert Ramirez.

And with barely two months before the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, Ferrer says he would deliver a better performance this time with the lessons that he absorbed from his seasoned mentor.

“I expect to surpass my previous performance in the SEA Games. Coach Gilbert has really prepared me for this,’’ said the 20-year-old Ferrer at the Philippine Sports Commission’s People Sports Conversations on Thursday.

Ferrer, who will slide to 90 kilograms after placing third in the men’s 100kg back in the 2019 edition of the biennial meet held in Clark, will fortify the backbone of the national team that aspires to bring home more medals than its previous stint.

And he hopes to find his glory niche in a team laden with heavy favorites.

“To be honest, I think all our judokas are capable of winning a medal,’’ said Ramirez.

While Filipino-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe (women’s 63kg), Mariya Takahashi (70kg) and Shugen Nakano (men’s 66kg) are gold favorites in the May 12 to 23 Vietnam sportsfest.

Joining Watanabe, Takahashi, Nakano and Ferrer in the SEA Games lineup are Dylwinn Keith Gimena, Carl Dave Aseneta, Khrizzie Pabulayan, Rena Fukuwara, Jea Lopez, Daryl Mercado, Bryan Quillotes and Keisei Nakano.