The Philippine team will have modest targets for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — The Philippine Olympic Committee is not shooting for the stars in the 2025 Thailand SEA Games which unfurls with the opening ceremonies on Tuesday, December 9, at the Rajamangala National Stadium.
With the dynamics of the SEA Games favoring its host country in terms of choosing which sports to play and certain eligibility rules, POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino understands that an overall championship is a steep ask.
While Tolentino believes our athletes’ abilities are exceptional, he knows it’s an uphill battle to the top.
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“Mabigat ‘yon. Mabigat 'yung Top 1. Alam mo 'yung host, gumagawa ng paraan yan eh,” he said.
But the POC refuse to be complacent as the sports official underscored the importance of being better than the last edition of the SEA Games.
A clear parameter of this would be in gold medal wins, with the POC setting the goal at around 60.
This figure is an improvement on the Philippines’ gold haul in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, where the Philippines finished at 5th place overall with a total of 260 medals — 58 of which were gold.
“Yung dati lang, matapatan natin 'yung dati, okay na 'yun… Malampasan natin 'yun, okay na. It’s a big accomplishment,” said Tolentino.
“Baka malampasan natin, kung umabot tayo ng 60, okay na, we beat our record,” he added.
Team Philippines will be relying on medal rich sports like athletics, gymnastics, boxing, and others in their bid to beat the 58-gold medal haul in the previous edition of the biennial tournament.
Other sports like basketball, volleyball, and tennis will also be closely monitored.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.