The Philippines is looking to put on a show at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand when it sends its biggest delegation of athletes yet to the regional meet in December.
After finishing in fifth place during the 2023 edition in Cambodia, a record-high 1,600 athletes, including coaches and officials will be vying for more than just participation.
Philippine Sports Commission Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio emphasized that nearly doubling the number of participants in the biennial showcase gives the country a better shot at glory while gaining exposure on the international stage.
For the PSC, the regional meet introduces Filipino delegates to tough competition beyond the country, which they are sure to benefit from later in their pursuit of the Asian Games and the Olympics.
“We’re sending the biggest delegation of athletes. Sa number of sports, hindi ko pa tiyak kung may in-adjust or nawala. Pero talaga ang sure ako ay this is the biggest delegation in the history of the Philippines’ participation in the Southeast Asian Games,” Gregorio said on Friday during the official send-off for the 2025 SEA Games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“Para mabigyan lahat ng exposure lahat ng atleta at para magkaroon ng mas maraming medalya. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin n’yo, ang exposure, ‘yan ang investment natin so they can compete better pagdating ng Asian Games at Olympics,” he added.
With some of the athletes heading to the biennial competition already being big names and superstars in sports such as basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics, the PSC has made sure that the products of grassroots are given proper opportunities to succeed outside of their small towns.
Winners of this year’s Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy were given spots in the national teams across 50 events.
“Ito yung pinadala nating 140 school students from the Philippines na nanalo sa Batang Pinoy at Palarong Pambansa. In the previous years ang best finish natin is always fifth place. We can do better this year. Makikita natin ‘yung improvement kasi sinuportahan natin sila,” said Gregorio.
“Hopefully, better than the last one in Cambodia. Alam naman natin na ang SEA Games you design that to favor the hosts. So we have to make sure that we compete properly. And get that much-needed exposure,” he continued.
Gregorio also ensured that the delegates from events whose venues were moved back to the main city due to severe flooding in Songkhla had been taken care of accordingly.
“All athletes are taken care of. They will transfer to Bangkok, and we have coordinated with the ambassador. And everything will be fine,” he concluded.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News