Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 14) – The Philippine judo team is determined to deliver another memorable performance at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
National team coach Gilbert Ramirez, a silver medalist in the 2019 SEAG, expressed confidence that all the 21 judokas will win medals in the biennial regional sports event in May.
“Lahat po ng athletes natin, magme-medal po. Hindi lang naman ito ang naging challenge sa mga Pilipino, mapaparaan tayong mga Pilipino. Yung mga athletes natin ay kahit pandemic, tumatakas yan para makapag-jogging,” Ramirez said during the Philippine Sports Commission’s People Sports Conversations program.
[Translation: All of our athletes will win a medal. The pandemic is not only the challenge for us Filipinos, since we are resourceful. Our athletes are still going out for jogging despite the pandemic.]
In front of their countrymen in 2019, the Filipino athletes clinched their best medal harvest in SEAG history, bagging 13 medals and finishing third overall behind top ranked Thailand and runner-up Indonesia in the medal table.
The Filipino judokas took home three golds, one silver, and nine bronzes during the 2019 SEAG, one gold medal short of the Indonesians.
Two of the three Filipino gold medalists will see action in the next SEAG with Shugen Nakano defending his title in the -66kg division, while Mariya Takahashi will still compete in the +70kg category but in the mixed team event.
2019 SEAG bronze medalists Keisei Nakano (men’s -73kg), Carl Dave Aseneta (mixed team +90kg), John Viron Ferrer (men’s -90kg and mixed team -90kg), Shin Matsumura (mixed team +90kg), Daryl John Mercado (men’s -55kg) and Bryn Quillotes (men’s -60kg, Goshin Jutsu Kata) are also slated to vie for another podium finish in Hanoi.
In the women’s side, 2019 SEAG bronze medalists Khrizzie Pabulayan (-52kg), Rena Furukawa (-57kg, mixed team), Megumi Delgado (-63kg, mixed team), and Jeanalane Lopez (-45kg) are the country’s hopes for another medal finish.
Making their SEAG debut in Vietnam are collegiate champions Dylwynn Gimena (Katame No Kata, mixed team -70kg), Lea Lopez (women’s -45kg), and Sean Panganiban (men’s -55kg); and UAAP Season 82 girls division Most Valuable Player awardee Joemari-Heart Rafael (Katame No Kata).
Completing the 21-strong Philippine judo team for the 31st SEAG are veteran judoka Alvin Mendoza (Goshin Jutsu Kata), former Ateneo De Manila University Judo Team co-captain Andrea Divina (Katame No Kata), University of the Philippines standout Benedict Macale (men’s -73kg), and University of the East products Jed Mark Pumay (men’s -60kg) and Jewel Ann Rafael (Katame No Kata).
Newly installed Philippine Judo Federation president Ali Sulit said the roster is very much capable of producing more medals for the country in the upcoming SEAG.
“Reviewing everything that was put before me, I have the full confidence in this lineup and everybody in it. The coaching staff, they have my full confidence and trust in taking our team to this year’s SEA Games,” said Sulit.
Gimena and Ferrer promised to give their best in the Vietnam SEAG, notwithstanding the additional pressure on their backs since they are competing in two events.
“The mindset during the competition is to really put all the negative things away from the training ground. Once I step in the mats, I will only think one game at a time to conquer each game with the best result possible,” said Gimena, who shared her excitement for her SEAG debut after missing the previous edition in Pampanga due to personal commitments.
“I feel that I’m in the best shape of my life now,” a confident Ferrer declared.
The 31st SEAG judo competitions are scheduled on May 18-22 at the Hoai Duc Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
