Yulo siblings on pace for SEA Games show

Elaiza Yulo shows picture-perfect form in ruling the balance beam event. — CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Eliza Andriel “Iza’’ Yulo rose and twisted into the air before lunging rather shakily with her hands on the mat upon landing.

It was far from perfect on her first attempt on the vault, but everybody knows the youngest sibling of two-time artistic gymnastics world champion Carlos Yulo will only get better.

And if her team’s projections hit the mark, the gymnast with the most medals at the recent Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City should be able to perfect her form once she joins her famed kuya (older brother) in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok next year.

“She (Eliza) should polish her performance and she’s bound to become even better,’’ said Reyland Capellan, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist who now coaches the country’s men’s artistic squad.

Yulo will turn 16 prior to the Thailand SEAG in December next year, the minimum age of eligibility for her to join senior competitors in women’s artistic gymnastics.

Such a possibility is a rare occurrence and could witness the oldest and the youngest among the Yulo siblings seeing action together.

“I haven’t thought about it, but it will be nice competing with my kuya,’’ said Iza in Filipino.

Karl Eldrew Yulo won’t be able to join the two, however. The 16-year-old Karl needs to be 18 to compete in the Games.