MISSION POSSIBLE: POC chief eyes best Asian Games finish in 64 years

More than four gold medals.

That’s what the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) targets when Filipino athletes compete in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya from 19 September to 4 October.

In a meeting with select sportswriters on Monday, POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino turned the mood light as he painted a very vibrant picture of Philippine sports in the brand-new year, believing that Filipino athletes have what it takes to post their best Asian Games finish in 64 years.

“Kaya yan,” the POC chief said when asked if Filipinos can win more than four gold medals — the highest since they brought home seven mints in the 4th edition of the Games in Jakarta in 1962.

With the Asian Games organizers limiting the number of athletes per delegation, Tolentino worked hard during the holidays to form a team that is capable of winning in the biggest, most prestigious multi-sport event in Asia.

He said he scratched athletes who failed to win medals in the recent 33rd Southeast Asian Games and retained those whom he believes have fighting chances, especially the gold and silver medalists and those who emerged victorious in the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

Topping Tolentino’s initial and unofficial list are the Yulo brothers — Carlos and Eldrew — who will compete in the individual and team gymnastics events as well as Asian record holder Ernest John Obiena of athletics and some promising boxers like Mark Ashely Fajardo and Jay Baricuatro together with the returning Eumir Marcial, a silver medalist in the previous Asian Games.

With Carlos expected to dominate for being a double Olympic gold medalist in Paris, his 17-year-old brother, Eldrew, is not far behind after collecting a pair of bronze medals in the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships that the country hosted last November.

In fact, like his brother, the younger Yulo is also very much familiar with the Japanese brand of game as he is currently training in Tokyo under the watchful eyes of Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya,

“Yung magkapatid (Carlos and Eldrew), kaya mag-gold nyan. Individual (event) si Caloy tapos kasama nya sa team event si Eldrew. Kaya nila yan, Pagtutulungan nila yan,” Tolentino said, drawing his prediction from the Yulo brothers’ “homecourt advantage” since they have been training in Japan since their teenage years.

Tolentino also expects to draw medals from the Filipino golfers, Alex Eala, football players and, of course, the Gilas Pilipinas, which will be entering the tournament with a lot of pressure following its miraculous semifinal victory over host China en route to winning the gold medal in the Hangzhou edition of the Asiad four years ago.

The POC chief said there might be some glory in the fairway as the Asian Games allow professional golfers to see action, unlike in the SEA Games, where only amateur golfers are qualified.

“Iba ang Asian Games eh, mga pro ang lalaro dyan. Kaya pwede sina Miguel (Tabuena) at Bianca (Pagdanganan) dyan,” said Tolentino, referring to Tabuena, who made a lot of heads turn when he outshone a very competitive field featuring Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed to win the International Series Philippines last October, as well as Pagdanganan, a former Asian Games gold medalist who competes in the prestigious Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.

And if luck bounces their way, there is a good chance that Filipino-American Professional Golf Association Tour campaigner Rico Hoey can play for the country to boost its chances of winning the gold medal.

Of course, Eala should not be counted out.

The 20-year-old Eala is the world’s latest sensation after a stellar season that saw her shocking some of the biggest names in professional tennis. She is now at No. 49 in the world ranking and is expected to further improve as she competes in various Grand Slam events.

“Si Alex Eala, laban yan,” the POC chief added, but wary of Eala’s looming foes like rising star Janice Tjen of Indonesia and some Chinese netters in world No. 24 Zheng Qinwen and No. 43 Wang Xinyu.

“Madaming malakas tulad nung Indonesian at mga Chinese, pero hindi aatrasan ni Alex yan. Laban yan.”

Tolentino stressed that although it won’t be easy, he is still expecting some medals from team sports like women’s football and men’s basketball.

“Inaalala ko lang kung papano nila (Gilas Pilipinas) madedepensa ang korona,” said Tolentino, bracing for an all-out war from the vengeful Chinese dribblers and the host country, which will definitely not go down without putting up a fight as it is expected to parade its National Basketball Association players led by Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers.

When told that the Chinese would definitely do their best to exact payback at Gilas Pilipinas, Tolentino chuckled before making a light-hearted remark.

“Baka pati si Yao Ming palaruin na din nila,” he said as the room burst into laughter.

“Pero tama kayo — more than four. Kaya yan.”