Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino looks to bring more young Filipinos to the continental level as he targets the country hosting the Asian Youth Games (AYG) sooner or later.
The key, Tolentino says, is government support.
‘If the Philippine government will back me up,’ Tolentino said.
Speaking after the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board meeting at the Art Hotel and Resort in Bahrain, Tolentino revealed the Philippines has a chance to host the AYG after it was decided the competition for top junior athletes in the continent will be held biennially and no longer after every four years.
After the Bahrain AYG 2025, which formally opened on Wednesday night here at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Manama, the games are expected to be staged in Uzbekistan in 2029.
The change from quadrennial to biennial means the AYG will be in 2031.
Tolentino, an OCA Executive Board member, is again calling for teamwork at home, saying it will provide many young Filipino athletes with a chance to reach the bigger stage.
‘Our young athletes in the Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy, pure grassroots, will have a goal, the AYG,’ Tolentino said. ‘Actually, I was given the heads up not one, but two events-the AYG and the Asian Beach Games.’
‘It’s up to the government though,’ he said.
The 2025 AYG in Bahrain officially opened on Wednesday evening, marking the start of the major youth sporting spectacle featuring over 4,300 athletes competing across 253 events in 24 sports.
The Philippines has a 141-strong delegation competing in volleyball, teqball, golf, triathlon, mixed martial arts, taekwondo, muay, athletics, boxing, cycling, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton, wrestling, swimming, jiujitsu, and kurash.
Kram Airam Carpio delivered the first gold for the Philippines, winning the Pencak Silat girls’ 51-55 kg division with a 33-19 victory over Indonesia’s Qiken Dwi Tata Olifia late Monday.
Filipino boxers ready for action
BANNERED by rising star Leo Mhar Lobrido, Filipino boxers set out for their inaugural campaign starting Thursday at Hall 9 of the Exhibition World Bahrain.
The drawing of lots was set Wednesday night.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines executive director Marcus Jarwin Manalo said the six-member Filipino team is ready should any of them be drawn on opening day.
‘They all should do well,’ said Manalo shortly after the boxing delegation arrived for the third edition of the quadrennial showcase late Tuesday night, following a 10-hour journey from Manila.
With Lobrido (46 kgs) are Jefferson Amaya (50 kgs), John Michael Estorba (54 kgs) and Justin James Zampatti (75 kgs) in the boys’ section and Shairylle Pores (46 kgs) and Ermalie Caballero (50 kgs) in the girls’ division.
They are coached by Australian Don Abnett, Gerson Nietes, former world champion Josie Gabuco and former Asian Games gold medalist Violito Payla.
Lobrido is considered the best bet among the Filipino pugs, having ruled the Fourth Greater Area Bay Youth Boxing Challenge in Shenzhen, China last year.
He turned 16 just this month and hails from boxing hotbed Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Lobrido also stands as one of the country’s flag bearers during the Youth Games’ formal opening ceremony, alongside volleybelle Harlyn Serneche.
Manalo, however, is not discounting the chances of the two lady boxers to contend for a medal finish.
Boxing is making its debut in the Youth Games, having not been part of the 2009 (Singapore) and 2013 (Nanjing) editions.
Tambalque, Saga lead golf squad
TOP young Filipino athletes begin their bid in the golf competition on Thursday at the Royal Golf Club in Riffa.
Patrick Tambalque, a proven winner on the Junior Philippine Golf Tour, and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) titlist Eliana Saga head the team, which features other Junior Philippine Golg Tour standouts in the 54-hole individual and team tournament.
JPGT Splendido Taal champion Charles Serdenia and Pinewoods winner Tristan Padilla also see action in the boys’ squad.
Saga, winner of the AJGA Junior at The Mission Club in Lompoc (California), lead the girls’ team alongside with Precious Zaragosa-JPGT winner at Luisita and Sherwood Hills-and South Pacific champion Crista Miñoza.
The Philippine team had two days in Bahrain ahead of the tournament-enough time, coach Ramon Brobio said, to familiarize themselves with the Colin Montgomerie-designed course, which recently hosted the DP World Tour’s Bahrain Championship.
Tapped by the National Golf Association of the Philippines only this year, Brobio said they skipped Royal Golf Club simulation sessions in favor of seeing and experiencing the actual conditions.
‘It’s different when you see the actual grass, wind conditions and temperature, we’ll see,’ said Brobio, who coached Miguel Tabuena and Princess Superal in their junior years.
‘We expect Japan, China and Korea to be strong,’ Brobio said. ‘But you know our players are capable, we’re very competitive. We’re gonna go out there and try our best and see what happens.’