DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Chester Rabanal and Christian Pepito are ready for another challenge — not in wheelchair basketball, but in para powerlifting — as they make their international debut in the sport in the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games here.

Both Rabanal and Pepito have represented the country abroad in wheelchair basketball and taking on an individual sport felt both challenging and exciting for the two young standouts.

“Excited and nervous,” said Rabanal in Filipino, who was part of the national wheelchair basketball team that competed in the 2024 AOZ U23 Qualifying tournament for the World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

“It’s a different feeling coming from a team sport, in terms of adjustment, there wasn’t much because I’ve always enjoyed strength conditioning,” he added as he competes in the rookie 65kg.

Pepito, a standout from Malaybalay, Bukidnon, echoed the sentiment, adding that feeling nervous is simply part of being an athlete — whether it’s your first time or not.

“I just focus on training,” said Pepito in Filipino, who will compete in the next-gen up 80kg.

With 5x5 wheelchair basketball scrapped and replaced with a 3x3 event, Team Philippines is utilizing the young talents they have to other sports. The national 3x3 wheelchair basketball team is composed of almost the same lineup from the 5x5 squad that finished sixth in the previous edition of the meet in Manama, Bahrain in 2021.

Among those is Edgardo Ochaves, who believed their team chemistry is their strength in their campaign.

“With this being my second time to compete here, I’m not going to waste this opportunity. Our goal is to win the gold medal,” said Ochaves in Filipino.

Rabanal and Pepito also hope for nothing less than podium finishes, not only for themselves, but also for the whole national team.

“We want to prove that we can also deliver medals like our national athlete counterparts,” Pepito said.

Competition in goalball, wheelchair basketball 3x3, para swimming, para badminton and boccia are ongoing at press time as the 48-athlete delegation, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Paralympic Committee, seeks to maintain or surpass its one gold, six silver and two bronze medal haul in the previous edition.

Around 1,500 para athletes from 35 countries are taking part in 11 para sports.