Team Philippines ready to go full blast

PARIS – Tokyo boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo have all set their Paris bids in motion.

And world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena is to take his act to the breathtaking Stade de France Saturday.

A week into the Paris Olympics, and it’s full steam ahead for Team Philippines’ golden mission in its centennial year of participation in the quadrennial Games.

Team Philippines’ lead guns are going full force, all aching to achieve their personal goals and help fuel the nation’s drive for another Olympic golden moment or a juggernaut to surpass the 1-2-1 gold-silver-bronze breakthrough in Tokyo in 2021.

After a Thursday breather (with only boxer Aira Villegas to see action later in the night), the Nationals swing back into action with much attention on Petecio as she fights home bet Amina Zidani in the women’s 57kg Round of 16 at the Paris North Arena.

Jarold Hatch vies in men’s 100m butterfly in the national swimming stadium while Joanie Delgaco returns to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium for the last time to compete in the race for 19th to 24th places in women’s single sculls in rowing.

Saturday is a big day as Obiena launches his bid, looking to soar for a spot in pole vault final Monday while Yulo presses his golden drive, vowing to be all-out in his routine in men’s floor exercise final.

“Tingin ko okay ako, nabigyan ako ng confidence (with qualification to three finals),” said Yulo.

The pocket dynamo from Leveriza, Manila also felt good about his performance in the all-around final – not with the result but a good day serving as his warmup for the floor exercise final Saturday and vault finale Sunday (Manila time).

Yulo came in 12th in the event topped by Japanese Shinnosuke Oka, followed by Chinese Zhang Boheng and Xiao Ruoteng, also from China. The Filipino piled up a total of 83.032 while scoring 14.333 in floor exercise, 11.900 in pommel horse, 13.933 in rings, 14.766 in vault, 14.500 in parallel bars and 13.600 in horizontal bar.

“Super grateful ako na healthy at naitawid ang competition (all-events final) na walang nangyari sa akin. Super grateful sa experience, madaming learnings as all-arounder. May nakuhang strategy at adjustments,” said Yulo.

Yulo said it’s now about finetuning what he’s performing in the finals.

“‘Yun na rin po ang gagawin ko sa finals (stuffs I did in the all-around). Papagandahin ko na lang ang landing. Gagandahan ko ang execution,” he said.

He’s going for 6.6 degrees of difficulty in floor exercise and 6.0 in vault, and he’s hoping his all-out effort would lead to a triumphant moment.

“Siguro relax lang at huwag masyadong magmadali, focus sa paghinga at sa flow ng movement,” he said.

He’s joyful he’s had improvement here as he made the all-around and floor exercise finals. He missed these in Tokyo.

“Thankful ako kay Lord pinapa-experience Niya sa akin ang ganitong bagay. Mas mature na ako to handle things like this,” Yulo said.