MANILA, Philippines — In three days, the journey begins.
Gilas Pilipinas takes the floor, raising the curtain not only for its own title defense but for the entire 464-strong Team Philippines’ campaign in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
It is the largest Filipino contingent in three decades – the biggest since 524 athletes were sent to Hiroshima in 1994 when Japan last hosted the quadrennial conclave – and on paper, the strongest in years.
Bannered by Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, tennis sensation Alex Eala and pole vault ace EJ Obiena, Team Philippines goes to Nagoya with a bold target – to surpass the four-gold hauls in Jakarta/Palembang in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2023, and perhaps, even eclipse the seven-gold harvest in Jakarta in 1962, the second-best effort next only to the 14-gold harvest when Manila hosted in 1954.
The opening ceremony is set Sept. 19 at the Aichi-Nagoya Stadium, but as is the norm in the Asiad, some events start early. Gilas, out to defend the crown it regained in dramatic fashion in Hangzhou after 61 long years, plays Bahrain Friday, Kazakhstan Saturday and China Monday in Group C.
Gilas Pilipinas’ climb back to the summit will surely be as steep, strenuous and demanding as the ascent to Mt. Fuji, with Justin Brownlee unlikely to come on board to anchor the Nationals’ title defense.
“We don’t expect Justin to join us,” Gilas coach Tim Cone said in a message to The STAR yesterday.
Brownlee has been out of commission nursing an assortment of injuries since Gilas’ July 26 duel with Australia in the last game of Window 3 of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Perth.
On what the whole delegation can deliver, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is optimistic.
“Baka lumampas tayo ng apat,” said Tolentino, of the 464 athletes (as of yesterday) seeing action in 38 of 47 sports. “Marami tayong pag-asa.”
And indeed, there are many.
In gymnastics, Yulo, 26, returns for unfinished business. He finished fourth in vault in his Asiad debut in 2018, skipped Hangzhou, and now banners a 14-man squad with younger brother Eldrew.
In athletics, Obiena, 30, returns as defending champion and record holder. He leads 24 track and field bets.
In tennis, Eala, 21, coming from stints in all Grand Slams, is tipped to end a 64-year gold drought since Johnny Jose topped the men’s singles in Jakarta in 1962. She settled for two bronzes in Hangzhou.
In boxing, the tradition continues. It was boxing that delivered a three-gold blitz in Hiroshima 1994 through the troika of Onyok Velasco, Elias Recaido and Reynaldo Galido. This time, seven fighters will wage war at the Nishio Gymnasium in Nishio City from Sept. 21-Oct. 2 – Olympic medalists Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, Riza Pasuit, Junmilardo Ogayre and Norlan Petecio, with Eumir Marcial expected to join after his US pro fight.
Don’t forget jiu-jitsu world champion Kim Custodio, swim star Kayla Sanchez – a former Olympic medalist with Canada who now banners a six-strong Phl swimming team – and the Sibol Esports team.
Esports, a demonstration sport in 2018 and a seven-gold medal sport in Hangzhou, will have 11 golds at stake in Nagoya. Sibol qualified in six events – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, Naraka: Bladepoint, Puyo Puyo Champions, Pokemon UNITE and Identity V. And if there’s one gold that looks almost certain, it’s MLBB, where the Philippines is a four-time SEA Games champion.
Aquatics offers the most golds with 55 – 41 in swimming, 10 in diving, two each in artistic swimming and water polo – followed by athletics with 50, shooting 28 and cycling 22.
All told, 11,000 athletes from 45 countries will converge in Nagoya. From archery to wushu, from baseball to wrestling, Team Philippines will be there – 464 strong, hungry and ready. – With Olmin Leyba