Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said Team Philippines aims to surpass its 2023 SEA Games medal haul rather than chasing the overall championship in Thailand.
In the 2023 Cambodia edition, the country won 58 golds, 85 silvers, and 117 bronzes, finishing fourth overall.
Tolentino, sending 1,168 athletes to the 33rd SEA Games, said, “The Top 1 finish is too heavy. Our goal is to match or even top our previous performance from last time (SEA Games Cambodia). We finished 58 golds last year, and if we produced more than 58, we’re all good already. If we managed to have a 60 gold medal haul, we’re all good already.”
He expressed confidence in key teams and athletes, highlighting Gilas Pilipinas in basketball, and boxing stars Weldon Mindoro, Eumir Marcial, and Nesthy Petecio. Flag bearers Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas arrived in Bangkok on Monday.
Tolentino also mentioned that 60 to 140 athletes would wear Barong designs by Avel Bacudio during the opening ceremony.
He hoped Malacañang would again offer generous incentives, recalling “You all remember the last time? Their incentive was doubled, and I hoped that this time, it would be the same.”
The Philippines last claimed overall SEA Games victory in 2019, when it hosted the event and won 149 golds, 117 silvers, and 121 bronzes.