The Philippine Rowing Association is eyeing to win two tournaments in May and June as part of the buildup for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand from 9 to 20 December.

National team head coach Ed Maerina said two teams will be deployed overseas for the Southeast Asian Rowing Federation in Pattaya, Thailand from 30 May to 4 June and the Ratzeburg International Regatta in Germany from 31 May to 1 June.

Olympic rowers Cris Nievarez and Joanie Delgaco are expected to represent the Filipinos in Germany under foreign coach Benedikt Schwarz while the Ateneo de Manila University rowing team will compete in Thailand.

“He (Schwarz) wants to bring our team to higher levels of training and competition so they can experience what that feeling is like,” Maerina said.

“Those in Team B are expected to improve. If they have a good performance, they could be in the final line up for October.”

The Philippines’ ultimate goal this year is to dominate the 33rd SEA Games.

In 2022, the Philippines finished with two silver medals and six bronze medals in the Hanoi SEA Games and was absent from the Cambodia SEA Games one year later.

“We want to produce at least two gold medals because in the previous SEA Games, except in 2022, we would always win a gold medal,” Maerina said.

“We would remind our athletes to keep pushing to make sure we get our preferred times in the SEA Games this year.”