The Philippines vows to assemble its best youth squad when it hosts the inaugural ASTAF U19 Asian Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum from 18 to 24 November.

Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association president Karen Caballero said they are leaving no stone unturned in making sure that the country’s best athletes will be ready to battle Asian heavyweights such as Thailand and Vietnam.

“We have about 70 clubs nationwide. We are coordinating with regional directors in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to ensure inclusivity in talent selection,” Caballero said in a press conference that was also attended by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, PSC commissioner Walter Torres and Asian Sepak Takraw Federation deputy secretary general Muhammad Fariq Abdul Halim.

“There will be inter-town and inter-barangay competitions as part of the selection process. Many were identified during Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy, but we continue scouting deeper.”

For Gregorio, the competition doesn’t only serve as part of their aggressive drive for sport tourism but an encouragement for young athletes to continue playing, especially those who have competed in tournaments like in the Palaro and Batang Pinoy.

“Hosting 12 to 16 countries, with around 640 to 700 foreign players staying for about a week, shows the benefits of sports tourism. This also helps in the continued development and transformation of Rizal Memorial and the City of Manila,” Gregorio said.

“Wherever they are good, wherever they proudly wear the Philippine flag, we must support them. That is the best gift we can give our youth.”

Fariq agrees, saying that he hopes the U19 Asian Championship will serve as a springboard for a possible professional league in the future.

“The U19 Championship is not just about competition. It is a platform to elevate youth athletes who will become future leaders and champions of sepak takraw,” Fariq said.

“We aim to create a career path for athletes using this U19 as a foundation, possibly leading to a professional sepak takraw league. We need athletes to become superstars.”