SEA Games: PH officials unfazed by stricter rules

Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Officials stood firm in their belief that Team Philippines will be able to do well amid limitations that hamper the chase for as many golds as possible in the Thailand Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Team Philippines was treated with a send-off event on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum, with Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino confident of “surprises” that can be pulled off.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio, meanwhile, is optimistic that the country can improve its 58-gold haul from the 2023 Games in Cambodia.

“It’s a very strong team,” Tolentino said after the two-hour affair attended by some of the record 1,600 contingent, the most by a Philippine delegation.

The send-off came as Team Philippines faced challenges usually encountered in the SEA Games.

Limitations

For one, limitations were imposed on the number of events that an athlete can participate in. That rule left Carlos Yulo hamstrung and the two-time Olympic gold medalist decided to pull out of the event.

Naturalized players are now barred from suiting up in 5-on-5 basketball, as Thailand is applying Fiba eligibility rules for the tournament.

Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame are thus barred from the tournament, along with standouts from the Gilas Pilipinas women’s side.

“I think it’s final,” one source said.

Nonetheless, there are several winnable golds for Team Philippines. Boxing is a rich source of medals, along with gymnastics, which has enough in its talent pool to make up for Yulo’s absence.

“We all know that the Southeast Asian Games is designed to favor the hosts,” said Gregorio. “But hopefully we can do better than the last one in Cambodia.”