A lean but mean nine-member Philippine delegation launches its ambitious quest for the gold when it goes into action in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games slated Aug. 14-26 in Singapore.
Wearing the national colors are tennis’ Jeson Patrombon, taekwondo’s Kirk Barbosa, swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Khing Lacuna, basketball’s Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., Cris Michael Tolomia, Jeron Teng and Michael Anthony Pate and weightlifter Patricia Llena.
The Nationals trip for the 13-day event is supported by Pharmaton, VISA and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“It’s really hard to predict medals in the Olympics,” said Mark Joseph, RP’s YOG Chef de Mission and swim head. “Our first goal would be to get the athletes to advance to the semis then to the finals, for a shot at the medal. Just getting to the YOG has been a long journey for these nine brave, young athletes.”
The country is pinning its hopes on weightlifting that produced the country’s first YOG qualifier, Patricia Llena, who has likewise been named flagbearer of the Philippine delegation for the Opening Ceremonies of the Games.
Taekwondo’s 15-year old Kirk Barbosa – the team’s youngest member – will have to rely more on his fighting skills since the discipline is a “subjective” sport where the measurement of victors’ achievements are not based on measurable results, but on whether or not one knocks down his or her foe.
Swimmers Alkhaldi and Lacuna who hurdled the Olympic Class A qualifying standards will go stroke for stroke in the pool where there are measurable standards, and be up against athletes coming from countries oozing with record holders.
The Youth Olympic Games is for 14-18 year olds.
The nine athletes start their golden quest on Aug. 15 with Alkhaldi and Lacuna, who came through with strong swims in the YOG qualifiers in Singapore early this year, spearheading the campaign at the Olympic-size pool at the Singapore Sports School.
Patrombon, who is ranked among the elite Top 50 junior netters in the world, will also carry the fight for RP from Aug. 15-21 at the Kallang Tennis Centre, hoping heavily to rely on his European experience that included precious, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime, stints in the Wimbledon and French Opens.
The 3-on-3 cage squad of Parks, Tolomia, Teng and Pate are also going all out to excel beyond their limits as they shoot at least for a medal in the event closest to the hearts of the Filipino slated Aug. 15-23.
Interestingly, three of them have basketball running through their veins. Parks, who will suit up for the National U Bulldogs next UAAP season, is the son of former many-time PBA import Bobby, Sr. while Teng, the 2010 Tionglian MVP, happens to be the progeny of former PBA star Alvin, who was called Robocop during his PBA playing days because of his toughness.
The high-leaping Tolomia, an FEU-Fern standout, for his part, is the younger brother of former pro Chester.
Barbosa will compete from Aug. 15-19 at the Suntec Hall 401 of the International Convention Centre while Llena, who made it here through the Asian Youth Championship, will get into action also from Aug. 15-19 a few kilometers away at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall.
Llena could end up pulling off a sleeper as she hopes to muster the same power she got when she topped a world junior power lifting event in Brazil a couple of years ago.
