In the end, it’ll boil down to hearts and minds — Buhain

BUSAN, South Korea - A matter of hearts and minds - that’s how months of intense preparations and training, and struggles have reduced the form of Filipino athletes as curtains formally rise on the 14th Asian Games today, ushering in the biggest quadrennial conclave among the best of the continent.

The 218-strong Filipino athletes will do battle in 30 of the 38 disciplines calendared in a fortnight of competition in a quest for redemption after a meager one-gold output four years ago in Bangkok.

"They have already set their minds and hearts for the next 16 days. All the support and prayers of the entire nation hopefully will inspire them to achieve greater heights," said PSC chair Eric Buhain, who will be part of a limited number of Filipino contingent marching in the opening rites at the Main Stadium.

There were also reports that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo might arrive in time to join the RP contingent in the rites of the Games which has put accent on Asian unity as its theme.

Chef of mission Tom Carrasco for his part said despite all the difficulties and shortcomings, particularly of the organizers in attending to the need of the Filipino athletes in the days prior to the inaugurals, the nation’s standard bearers are raring to go to war.

"We can always rely on the resiliency of Filipino athletes to prepare for battle," said Carrasco.

And there’s no better way to kick start the nation’s campaign than to have the high-profile basketball team launching the golden bid against United Arab Emirates in a mid afternoon encounter at the Geumjeong Gym yesterday.

The fencers will be next in line as the men’s epee and foil teams, led by screen heartthrob Richard Gomez, silver medallist in the Southeast Asian Games, competing in the preliminaries. The other fencers seeing action are Rolando Canlas, Jr., Emerson Segui and Avelino Victorino.

"After months of dedicated training and preparation, I just hope that I have convinced our athletes that they can win. Sana lahat ng suporta at sakripisyo ng lahat ay ma-inspire sila sa laban," said Buhain.

Billiards ace Francisco "Django" Bustamante will carry the RP flag to underscore his status as one of the athletes with solid chances of winning the gold in the event where he was catapulted to world stage recently with a runner-up finish in the Cardiff world championship.

Only a pruned-down list of 141 Filipino athletes and officials would be allowed to march in the opening ceremonies as organizers decided to hold a two-hour program at the Main Stadium.

The decision to have a limited number of athletes and officials in a way worked in favor of local athletes bound to see action in a heavy schedule Monday or the Philippines in swimming basketball, cycling, fencing, judo, rowing, sepak takraw, softball and weightlifting.