The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is hardly bothered with the national team’s three-medal performance in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games recently. 

SWP president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE that he sees the prestigious biennial meet as a stepping stone for tougher tournaments ahead.

Compared to previous editions of the biennial meet, the Filipino lifters had a forgettable performance in Bangkok with Elreen Ando emerging as the lone gold medalist when she ruled the women’s 63-kilogram category. Meanwhile, Albert Ian delos Santos plucked a silver medal in the men’s 71kg category and Kristel Macrohon clinched the women’s 69kg bronze medal to round out their quiet performance.

With that, the Philippines failed to surpass its 2-4-1 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023. 

“I’m not worried about the recent SEA Games results. It’s the lowest form of competition in the region,” said Puentevella, who saw Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz going home empty-handed.

“What’s important is the LA (Los Angeles) Olympics and we’re on track. Ando, Jhodie Peralta, and Ian de los Santos are getting better. In three more years, they will be ready.”

Puentevella said they can use the pain of the SEA Games setback as a fuel for future tournaments, leading to the LA Olympics two years from now.

After all, the national squad is set to see action in the Asian Weightlifting Championships from 1 to 6 April in Ahmedabad, India, the 20th Asian Games from 19 September to 4 October in Nagoya, Japan, and the IWF World Championships from 27 October to 8 November in Ningbo, China.

Qualifiers for the 2028 Summer Games are also expected to start sometime next year.