The Philippine archery squad faces stiff competition when it sees action in the stacked Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament Stage 1 from 18 to 22 February in Bangkok.

National team coach Nino Sinco said during the opening of CV Archery in Quezon City Saturday that they will be flying on the 16th as they take on the best archers in the region.

“I’ve been looking at the entries that are there. So, the major, all the Southeast Asian teams are going to be participating,” Sinco said.

With a new shooting range within Metro Manila, Sinco said it will help the national archers stay on their toes and be comfortable playing in different venues.

“All of them shoot in their own clubs. They have their own venues, but shooting in other venues also gives a different perspective,” Sinco said.

“There’s always this comfort zone and somehow, part of training is to get that athlete out of the comfort zone and to be able to shoot in what you call this unfamiliar area.”

Another event the Filipino archers are looking forward to is the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand from 9 to 20 December as they look to improve from their 1-1-1 gold-silver-bronze medal haul in Cambodia.

“I’ll be realistic about it. I think if we win medals, regardless of what medal, that will be an achievement,” Sinco said.

“In the last two SEA Games, we won some medals, but not as many as we did in the past.”