KUALA LUMPUR -- After delivering the country's first medal in the ongoing 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the national sepak takraw team hopes to perform well in its remaining events.
The team of Alvin Pangan, Joeart Jumawan, John Carlo Lee, John Jeffrey Morcillos, John John Bobier, Rhemwell Catana, Ronsited Gabayeron, and Regie Reznan Pabriga put the Philippines in the SEA Games' medals board when it finished second to host Malaysia in the men's chinlone event held at the Indoor Stadium in Titiwangsa on August 16.
On Monday, the women's regu team of Rizzalyn Amolacion, Mary Ann Lopez, Jean Marie Sucalit, Kristel Carloman, and Lhaina Lhiell Mangubat won the bronze medal. The gold went to Thailand while Malaysia pocketed the silver medal.
Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association (PASTA) president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero was impressed with the women's regu team, which was only formed early this year.
"I'm very proud since ground zero ako sa women's team when I took the presidency last year. It was only this March that we completed the line-up. Majority of the players are below 20 years old and all are SEA Games newbies," said Caballero on Tuesday.
Of the five girls, only one is from Metro Manila. Carloman is from Taguig City while Amolacion and Lopez are from Pangasinan, Sucalit and Mangubat are from Cebu.
"Even the Malaysian coach and team were surprised because they knew my players are newbies and new faces," added Caballero, who is also vice president of the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation.
The women's regu team won the bronze medal in the 13th International French Open in Gran Est, northeastern France last month in preparation for the SEA Games.
Caballero said the Philippines still has three more events and there is a good chance of winning the gold in the men's doubles and a silver in the men's regu team.
The men's doubles and the ladies' doubles events are scheduled on Aug. 25-26 while the men's regu team will be held on August 28-29.
"It will be tough to win in the ladies' doubles. Too strong and veterans ang ka-bracket natin (veterans are in our bracket). Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar. Then, crossover ang top two," said Caballero.
Rheyjey Ortouste and Jason Huerte are highly favored to win the gold after their title victory at the 2016 World Sepak Takraw Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. They also won the gold medal in the King's Cup in the same year.
The pair won the bronze medal in 2011 (Palembang, Indonesia) and 2013 (Myanmar) before winning the silver in the 2015 edition in Singapore. (PNA)
