The A-Team

The Philippines is heading to the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with one of its deepest and most star-studded delegations in recent memory, raising hopes of surpassing its four-gold medal haul from the 19th Asiad in Hangzhou, China.

With tennis sensation Alex Eala, pole vault star Ernest John Obiena, gymnastics brothers Carlos and Karl Eldrew Yulo and Gilas Pilipinas leading the way, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino believes the country is capable of producing its best Asian Games performance in decades.

“I have high hopes we’ll have a bountiful harvest in Nagoya and Aichi,” Tolentino said.

The Philippines won four gold medals in Hangzhou in 2023, and the POC is hoping the Nagoya delegation can eclipse that total for the country’s best showing since the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where Filipino athletes collected seven gold medals.

Eala has already shown how seriously she is taking the Asian Games, with the 21-year-old tennis star said to be considering to skip the China Open, a prestigious Women’s Tennis Association 1000-level tournament, so she could represent the Philippines.

“Asian Games is in my plans,” Eala said during her brief visit last month.

“It’s always an honor. I think it’s different when you play in the Asian and Southeast Asian Games; it’s different because it brings a different vibe than when I competed on the WTA Tour.”

The world No. 18 is expected to be among the country’s strongest bets as she tries to end the Philippines’ long wait for an Asian Games women’s singles tennis gold medal.

Basketball, meanwhile, will also have a different look after Gilas head coach Tim Cone formed a separate Asian Games pool composed mainly of Philippine Basketball Association players.

The arrangement will allow the national team’s regular core to focus on the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers while a separate group prepares for the Asiad, where the Philippines will defend the historic gold medal it won in Hangzhou.

“The plan is for me to handle the window until we get it done and then to transfer to the Asian team. In the meantime, Richard (Del Rosario), Josh (Reyes) and Jong (Uichico) will handle the Asian Games,” Cone said.

“I guess some of them have played in the past with Gilas, but they haven’t been a part of these windows that we’ve been part of. But we can still get maybe one or two or three from the window team to join.”

The Yulo brothers are likewise expected to deliver after their strong performances in the 13th Senior Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Zunyi, China last June.

Carlos, the country’s most decorated gymnast, will again spearhead the men’s artistic gymnastics team alongside younger brother Karl Eldrew, while Olympian Levi Jung-Ruivivar is also expected to enhance the medal chances.

“Carlos is strong, Eldrew is strong — everybody on our MAG team is strong. I’m really making sure that they train hard and come up with good preparation for the Asian Games,” gymnastics coach Aldrin Castañeda said.

Jiu-jitsu veteran Annie Ramirez is another major medal contender after deciding to compete in the women’s -52-kilogram division.

“Based on the local trials at 52kg, I felt okay and recovered well. The hardest part was maintaining the weight,” Ramirez said.

“My natural weight is heavier, so I had to make adjustments. As long as I felt good at that weight, everything was okay.”

Obiena, meanwhile, appears to be peaking at the perfect time.

The reigning Asian Games pole vault champion recently cleared a season-best 5.91 meters at the Golden Sand meet in Międzyzdroje, Poland as he builds momentum toward his title defense.

The Philippine campaign will also feature a formidable boxing squad led by Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and Paris bronze medalist Aira Villegas.

Swimming will have its own collection of medal hopefuls in Kayla Sanchez, Xiandi Chua, Teia Isabella Salvino, Miranda Cristina Renner, Heather White, Gian Christopher Santos and Logan Wataru Noguchi.

With established champions, Olympic medalists and a new generation of international stars coming together, the Philippines has reason to dream big in Nagoya.