The Philippine women's ice hockey team will be competing for the first time in the SEA Games, and they're not wasting the chance to replicate the men's medal finishes.
It's the turn of the Philippine women's ice hockey team to take the heat.
For the first time in the Southeast Asian Games, the women will be competing in ice hockey. And it's a huge deal for the Philippine squad, since the men picked up the gold in 2017 and earned a bronze in 2019.
"The men's team brought home medals. And so for us, to get the chance to do the same this year, it's a big thing for us, a big opportunity, and we were not gonna waste it," forward Danielle Imperial told One Sports.
[ALSO READ: Years removed from SEAG gold, Philippine Men’s Ice Hockey Team eager to carve new identity]
@onesportsphl ‘IT’S A BIG OPPORTUNITY, WE’RE NOT GONNA WASTE IT’ 🇵🇭🏒 Danielle Imperial of the Philippines women’s national ice hockey team shares their preparations for the 33rd SEA Games, saying it’s a huge moment for them to finally compete as the sport makes its SEA Games debut. | via Luisa Morales/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #SEAGamesThailand #TibayAtTatag
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The women's team are formidable as well, clinching the gold medal in the 2025 IIHF Women's Asia Cup last June by sweeping Iran, India, Malaysia, UAE, and Kyrgyzstan.
"Definitely, the women's team has gained some momentum, bringing home medals last year and just this year in the IIHF tournaments that we compete in annually. So, definitely a lot of energy coming from those tournaments, and we hope to see that momentum and the energy from the team on the ice in the SEA Games," Imperial said.
That doesn't mean the Philippine squad is expected to skate and breeze through the competition.
The biggest opponents are host Thailand and Singapore, who compete in Division II of the IIHF Women's Ice Hockey World Championships.
"Thailand and Singapore have been competing at a different level. So, definitely they're more accustomed to faster pace, higher skill, and it's going to be a challenge, but nothing's impossible," she said.
Fittingly enough, the Philippines will start the preliminaries against Thailand on December 10 at 2:30 p.m.
(With reports from Luisa Morales/One Sports Digital)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.