Patrick Coo finished with the bronze medal at the Asian BMX championships in Japan over the weekend to raise hopes for a potential gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said Coo’s victory is a strong prelude to his triumphant performance in the biennial meet that is set in Thailand from 9 to 20 December.

“It’s a strong prelude for Patrick to win the gold medal in Thailand, which is a little over a month away,” said Tolentino, who also heads the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

“He’s a strong potential for the gold and improve on the two bronze medal our sport got in Cambodia two years ago,” added Tolentino, referring to Ronald Oranza’s two bronze medals in road in 2023 in Siem Reap.

Japanese Asuma Nakai and Ryo Shimada frolicked at home on the Nagoya Keirin Stadium BMX Race Course in Aichi Prefecture to bag gold and silver, respectively, in the eight-athlete race where Filipino Niño Martin Eday finished eighth.

Conspicuously absent was Thailand ace Sukprasert, who won the race and time trial gold medals the last time BMX racing was on the SEA Games program during the 30th edition in 2019 in Tagaytay City.

Nakai got the maximum 300 UCI ranking points, Shimada earned 258 points and Coo 22 points in the event that also featured riders from Indonesia, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Jeanne Soliel Cervantes, meanwhile, was fourth in the Women Junior race behind Korean Kim Yeseo and Thais Praphada and Paphichaya Khongpong.

Coo was the Asian junior champion in 2019 to add to his improving credentials as he aims for his first Olympic qualification in Los Angeles 2028. Guangzhou 2014 Asian Games champion Daniel Caluag was the first Filipino BMX racer to compete in the Olympics in London 2012.

BMX racing of SEA Games is set on 11 and 12 December at the BMX Stadium inside the Kamol Sports Park in Bangkok.