PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — World No. 3 EJ Obiena banners the powerhouse national track and field squad when the athletics competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games goes full blast on Monday at the Morodok Techo National Stadium here.

Obiena, a two-time SEA Games champion, will be heavily favored when he marches to the men's pole vault event at 4:05 p.m. (5:05 p.m. in Manila).

But prior to that, Aries Toledo will tip things off when he starts his bid in the decathlon event at 9 a.m. while Filipino-American Kristina Knott campaigns in the women's 200-meter run.

Also seeing action in the first day are Melvin Calano in the men's javelin throw, Edwin Giron Jr. in the men's 1500-meter run, Abigail Manzano in the women's 5000-meter run and the quartet of Robyn Brown, Unmajesty WIlliams, Michael del Prado and Jessel Lumapas in the 4×400-meter mixed relay.

The Philippines is looking to bounce back in this centerpiece sport.

In fact, after posting an impressive performance of 11 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals in the 30th SEA Games in Manila, the performance of the national tracksters dropped to five gold, seven silver and 14 bronze medals in the previous edition of the Games in Hanoi.

So far, the national squad already has a silver and a bronze medal courtesy of Arlan Arbolis and Christine Hallasgo in the men's and women's marathon events on Saturday.