THE Philippine para team takes its turn at a shot at sporting glory as action in the 5th Asian Para Games officially unfurls on Friday in wheelchair basketball, table tennis and badminton in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The wheelchair basketball team, composed of Mark Vincent Aguilar, Alfie Cabanog, Jannil Canete, Kyle Carandang, John Dawal, Anthony Demesa, John Escalante, Miko Esperanza, Edgardo Echavez, Jodriel Piol and Kenneth Tapia, debuts versus 2023 Hangzhou Games silver medalist South Korea at the start of the classification phase on Friday at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya.
Apart from the South Koreans, the Filipinos were bracketed in Group B alongside the Iranians, the Hangzhou bronze winners, and the Iraqis in a single-round robin format that will determine the quarterfinal pairings.
Since only eight joined in the sport, the Nationals are already assured of a better finish after winding up ninth out of 10 on their Asian Para Games debut three years ago in Hangzhou.
But expect the Philippines, which is bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission with Adidas as its official uniform, to shoot for the stars and possibly earn a shot at a breakthrough podium finish in the discipline that is considered as a national pastime back home.
“We have high hopes in all the sports we’re participating in,” said Philippine Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo.
The ASEAN Para Games silver medalist will tackle Iran on Saturday and Iraq on Monday.
Group A will have host and Hangzhou winner Japan, powerhouse China, ASEAN Para Games champion Thailand and Kuwait.
Also plunging into action on Friday is the table tennis team, which will be spearheaded by promising young star Lhey Marie Manginsay, at the Sky Hall Toyota and the badminton squad of John Cyrus Maclang, Kathleen Pedrosa and Khian Kyle Urbano at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
The 23-year-old Ms. Manginsay is an ASEAN Para Games gold winner in Thailand last January and a silver medalist in the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai late last year and will be one of the country’s two flag-bearers in Sunday’s opening ceremony alongside taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin.
Also part of the table tennis squad are Smith Billy Cartera, Leo Macalanda, Jan Wilfred Redulla, Noriko Arielle Batuhan and Jhona Peña.
Philippine Chef de Mission Francis Diaz, who flew to Nagoya as early as last Saturday, said all 69 athletes are accounted for and should be ready to attempt for a possible four to five gold medals. — Joey Villar