Team PH faces tough climb at SEA Games, but POC chief vows best fight

Eumir Marcial (right) will fight for flag and country despite his status as a professional. —POC PHOTO

Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino believes the noninclusion of medal-rich events in the Thailand Southeast Asian (SEA) Games may put Team Philippines in a tough challenge to match its medal haul two years ago.

“It’s gonna be an uphill climb, but we will try our best,” Tolentino said on Monday.

The Philippines garnered 58 golds, 86 silvers and 116 bronzes in the previous edition held in Cambodia, good for fifth overall behind Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the host country.

Matching at least the gold output from the last SEA Games will depend on how it can make up for some of the events that traditionally favor Team Philippines.

Already out is 2024 Paris Olympics double-gold gymnast Carlos Yulo, who is skipping the SEA Games after a rule that will limit him to just two apparatuses for the men’s individual events.

Big expectations

But Tolentino said pro boxers Eumir Marcial and Weljon Mindoro have accepted the offer of taking their act to Thailand, where they’ll aim to secure golds in the squared circle.

“We have convinced them to fight for flag and country, even if they are already in the professional scene,” Tolentino said.

Big expectations are obviously handed to Gilas Pilipinas as it will aim to wrest the gold in men’s basketball under coach Norman Black, naturalized player Justin Brownlee and a combination of players from the collegiate, B.League and Korean Basketball League ranks.

The same can be said for the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball, which came so close to making the knockout stage of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship on home soil.

Team Philippines is set to have a send-off before the 33rd SEA Games rolls on Dec. 9, with Tolentino saying he will appoint one male and one female athlete to stand as flag bearers for Team Philippines. INQ