A record-breaking Philippine delegation is ready to challenge the region’s best, fueled by a mix of Olympic veterans, rising global stars, and defending champions of beloved team sports, as the 33rd Southeast Asian Games officially opens Tuesday with a highly anticipated ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium.
Set against the backdrop of Bangkok and Chonburi, Team Pilipinas is sending its largest-ever contingent — estimated at up to 1,600 athletes and officials — with the goal of surpassing, or at least maintaining, the country’s fifth-place finish in the 2023 Cambodia Games.
“The goal is to match the output in Cambodia,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino told members of the POC Media Pool during a press conference following the SEA Games Federation Council Meeting at the Grand Four Winds Convention Hotel on Monday.
In Cambodia, the Philippines earned 58 golds, 86 silvers, and 116 bronze medals, finishing fifth behind Vietnam (136-105-114), Thailand (108-96-108), Indonesia (87-80-109), and Cambodia (81-74-127).
Tolentino, however, warned that host Thailand will likely dominate combat sports. “We’re sure about that, so I told our athletes in combat sports to go for the knockout, submission, or a decisive victory,” he said.
The spirit of Team Pilipinas is exemplified by its flagbearers for the opening ceremony: world-ranked Alex Eala and SV.League spiker Bryan Bagunas. The two, along with a reduced 150-member delegation, will wear fashion designer and sports advocate Avel Bacudio’s “Laro ng Lahi” collection during the parade of nations.
The hosts announced that King of Thailand Vajiralongkorn will attend the opening ceremony. That means security measures — including police, military, and royal guards — will restrict the Philippine delegation’s participation to 75-percent of its intended 300-athlete representation.
Tolentino also emphasized that only Filipino athletes will join the march. “It’s their time, this is for the athletes,” he said.
(c) POC-PSC Media Group
The games, which drew 12,506 athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations to compete in 574 events across 50 sports, will now be held in two hubs — Bangkok and Chonburi — after massive flooding in Songkhla forced the cancellation of the third venue.
Filipino fans will be counting on several key athletes to deliver gold medals, led by weightlifting legend Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo. The two-time Olympic medalist and reigning champion will seek another gold in what could be her final SEA Games appearance.
The weightlifting competitions will take place at the Olympic Gymnasium, Chonburi Sports School, from December 13 to 17.
(c) PSC-POC Media Group
Fresh off a breakthrough season that saw her enter the WTA Top 50, Eala is aiming for her maiden SEA Games gold in women’s singles. Tennis competitions will run for 10 days at the National Tennis Development Centre (LTAT) in Nonthaburi (Bangkok cluster) until December 19, beginning with the men’s and women’s team events on December 10.
(C) PSC-POC Media Group
Pole vault star EJ Obiena, a double Olympian and regional record holder, is expected to dominate his event and remain a world-class contender.
Photo from Tokyo 2020
The seasoned boxing team, spearheaded by Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, and Eumir Marcial, is once again expected to be a major source of medals, defending the Philippines’ status as a regional boxing powerhouse.
All eyes will also be on Gilas Pilipinas as they defend their crown in basketball, although naturalized players and any athlete who obtained the relevant passport after age 16 are ineligible to compete.
The Alas Pilipinas men’s and women’s volleyball teams, along with the softball squads, are also expected to deliver strong performances.
The women’s volleyball team opens its campaign Thursday against the hosts, while the men’s team takes on Myanmar Saturday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok.
(C) Softball Asia
Expectations are tempered by Thailand’s decision to remove or limit certain events where Filipino athletes traditionally excel — most notably in cue sports (pool) and the strict single-apparatus limit in gymnastics, which prevented Paris Olympics double-gold medalist Carlos Yulo from competing.
Despite these challenges, officials remain optimistic that the delegation’s size, coupled with its focus on exposing young talent from grassroots programs, will create “surprises” and a strong medal haul.
The Philippines is particularly eyeing success in martial arts, combat sports, and new team sports such as Floorball, Ice Hockey, and Ice Skating.
Organizers are keeping specific details under wraps to preserve the element of surprise, but have emphasized two central pillars for the games: a “Green SEA Games,” promoting environmental sustainability, net-zero emissions, and a model for future regional events; and the “Unforgettable Thai Culture and Sport” theme, designed to reflect Thailand’s rich cultural heritage while showcasing its modern sporting capabilities.
The opening ceremony is expected to feature famous Thai actors, singers, and athletes — both past champions and rising stars. International media have highlighted the participation of globally recognized figures, including K-pop star BamBam (Kunpimook Bhuwakul) of GOT7.
The ceremony will be broadcast live across Southeast Asia, as the hosts aim to put recent organizational challenges behind them and focus the region’s attention on the 11 days of intense competition ahead.
