PATTAYA, Thailand – Philippine Sports Commission Chair Patrick Gregorio is hoping that the delegation will crack into the top four in the medal tally in this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The Philippines is coming off a 33-gold-medal haul in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, good for fifth place.
Gregorio is optimistic that the team can surpass that ranking here.
“Sa akin, siyempre, (For me, of course) better than the last SEA Games ang performance natin. Mahirap humanap ng target kasi depende rin sa napanalunan ng iba. Ako, doon tayo sa ranking (It’s hard to find a target because it also depends on what others have won. For me, let’s base it on the ranking),” Gregorio said on Monday while watching the Philippines face Vietnam in the men’s handball competitions Indoor Athletics Stadium Pattaya.
Gregorio said the 1,600-strong delegation is also composed of future stars who could represent the country in major competitions for years to come.
Gregorio is looking forward to Tuesday’s opening ceremony at Rajamangala National Stadium, where the Philippine team will be clad in uniforms designed by Avel Bacudio.
“Let’s prepare for the SEA Games as we prepare for the Asian Games and as we prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics. ‘Yan ang pinaka-importante sa akin. Minsan ang (That is important to me. Sometimes) sports, it’s the opportunity to compete first.”
“But as I’ve said, right from the start when we sent a very, very good delegation, alam naman natin na (we know that) exposure is also very important, aside from the medal haul,” Gregorio said.
“Alam naman natin na talagang maraming humahangga sa bagong (We know that many people admire the new) design ng Philippine Olympic Committee, so congratulations,” he said.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympian pole vaulter EJ Obiena and the rest of the 61-member athletics team will miss the opening parade, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino after the SEA Games Federation Council meeting.
“Their king (King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua) will attend the opening ceremonies and the security is so tight that the military and police might not be able to handle it. The Royal Guards will handle the extremely tight security,” Tolentino said, relaying information from a counterpart official from the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
“There are lockdowns, including at airports. Our athletes will arrive in the afternoon and be in a kind of lockdown there for a few hours.”
Obiena’s fellow Olympian and six-time SEA Games 400-meter hurdles gold winner Eric Cray, 2019 200m dash gold medalist Kristina Knott, Lauren Hoffman, and John Tolentino will likewise miss the opening show. (PR)
