Moreno, PH Archers hope to put gold-less past behind them

PH Archery team. Photo by Marc Reyes

KUALA LUMPUR—For Youth Olympic Games champion archer Luis Gabriel Moreno, studies will take the back seat for the time being.

The 2014 YOG champ—in tandem with Chinese Li JiaMan—said he took a sabbatical from his marketing course at La Salle to prepare for the Southeast Asian Games.

“It will be just for one term,” said Moreno, who, along with 15 other members of the Philippine archery team, sees action starting Wednesday.

He admitted feeling the pressure to perform after the country went home without a gold in Singapore two years ago.

“For me personally I will just try to remember what I practice and hope for the best,” he said.

The team had five international trips, including a week-long training camp in San Diego before competing in the World Cup in Salt Lake City in the United States.

Also comprising the team are four-time champion Amaya Paz-Cojuangco, who delivered the lone silver two years ago, and two-time Olympian Mark Javier.

Completing the lineup are Rogelio Miguel Tremedal, Joseph Benjamin Vicencio, Niron Brylle dela Cruz, Florante Matan and Earl Benjamin Yap in the men’s team.

The women’s squad is also composed of Pia Elizabeth Angela Bidaure, Nicole Marie Tagle, Jennifer Chan, Kim Concepcion, Kareel Meer Hongitan, Mbigail Tindugan and Mary Queen Ybanez.

Two gold medals will be at stake in compound events Wednesday at Synthetic Turf Field, KL Sports City.