Tougher SEAG ahead, says Tolentino, but POC ready

Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is bracing for a challenging campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, set to take place in Thailand from Dec. 9 to 20, 2025.

And as it gets ready to dive into the country’s largest international event in terms of athlete participation, the POC is prioritizing early preparation to ensure a competitive showing.

“This will be a tough SEA Games, but I’m confident our athletes and national sports associations will deliver in Thailand,” said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who was reelected last month in a landslide victory.

Tolentino and the newly elected POC executive board will meet on Jan. 9 to devise a strategic plan for the biennial event, which will feature 585 gold medals across 50 sports. Cities Chonburi and Songkhla will cohost the Games, with Bangkok serving as the primary hub.

“Work starts in earnest. It was a historic 2024 that raised the bar that high, making the POC’s mission and vision even more challenging,” Tolentino added, referencing the Philippines’ unprecedented two Olympic golds in Paris, courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo.

Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas added bronze medals, setting new standards for national sports.

With the momentum of 2024’s historic achievements, Tolentino emphasized the importance of leveraging the confidence and trust of sports organizations to boost performance.

‘Not impossible’

“It isn’t impossible. My trust and confidence with the NSAs and my working team could boost our athletes to achieve higher goals,” he said.

The POC’s initial strategy will be presented to representatives from 61 national sports associations on Jan. 15.

Meanwhile, Filipino athletes will face a busy 2025 calendar, starting with the Asian Winter Games in February and including the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Saudi Arabia and the World Games in China.