Who’ll break the ice for Team Philippines?

MANILA, Philippines — The massive hunt for the gold in the Paris Olympics has begun and for the Philippines, its first, on paper, could come in women’s fencing where Sam Catantan is in the fold.

The finals in Catantan’s event, assuming that she makes it that far, is scheduled Monday morning.

Then in gymnastics, in the men’s individual all-around,  two-time world champion Carlos Yulo can deliver the Philippines’ first gold in the Paris Games on Wednesday.

Otherwise, Yulo will have other chances in the other apparatus, like in his pet events, the floor exercise (Aug. 3), vault (Aug. 4) and parallel bars (Aug. 5).

The country’s lady gymnasts could pull it off as well –Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo – in the individual all-around (Aug. 2), vault (Aug. 3), uneven bars (Aug. 4), balance beam (Aug. 5) and floor exercise (Aug. 5).

Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe will try to pull it off as her discipline is set Tuesday.

Rower Joanie Delgaco’s event comes off the wraps today and could make it as far as the finals set Aug. 3.

For tanker Kayla Sanchez, she will plunge into action in the 100m freestyle Tuesday and hopefully qualify to the finals Thursday when she hopes for a tidal wave of a performance.

Fellow swimmer Jarod Hatch, for his part, will usher in his campaign Friday in the 100m butterfly where the finale is slated Aug. 4.

The weightlifters will wage war Aug. 7 in the men’s 61kg (John Ceniza), Aug. 8 in the women’s 59kg (Elreen Ando) and Aug. 10 in women’s 71kg (Vanessa Sarno).

Golfers Bianca Pagdangan and Dottie Ardina’s event kicks off Aug, 7 up to Aug. 10 where they will face Yuka Saso, a Filipina now representing Japan.