Bowlers, cagers begin RP campaign in Asian Youth Games

MANILA, Philippines – A crack bowling team led by national pool mainstay Dyan Arcel Coronacion and the fancied basketball squad flag off Team Philippines’ campaign in the 1st Asian Youth Games in Singapore on Wednesday. Coronacion, already a veteran of local and international tournaments at a young 16, guns for a gold medal in the girls’ singles, along with teammates Marie Alexis Sy, Lingling de Guzman and Madeline Llamas. Louie Fredric Chuaquico, who had posted five perfect games in previous competitions, topbills the RP bowlers' quest in the boys’ side, where he’s joined by Jose Collins, Bryan Gabay, and Jason Tubid. Bowling coach Caloy de Leon refused to make a medal projection for his wards but promised to give a good fight. “Maraming malalakas na team na kasali dito tulad ng Japan, Korea at Singapore. Pero hindi tayo basta papatalo nang hindi lumalaban," de Leon said. “I told the athletes not to expect too much from the lane condition. Ang kailangan talaga nila ay mag-concentrate sa execution nila at mag-focus sa game," de Leon added. Also vying for a gold medal on Wednesday are sisters Dianne Nicole and Marie Isabelle Eufemio, who see action in shooting (girls’ air rifle), and Natassia Marie Nalus, who hopes to create a splash in diving (girls’ 3m springboard). According to chef de mission Col. Cesar Binag, the Philippine contingent is in great shape and in high spirits as it went through light training and conditioning Tuesday. “I met with some of the athletes and talked to the coaches, they are all very relaxed," said Binag. Starting their quests in their own front are the touted RP 3-on-3 cagers. Silver medalists in the 2007 Bali Asian Games, the RP boys are installed as one of the teams to beat in the AYG, according to the Games' official website. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala expressed confidence with the chances of the boys even if they were drawn to a relatively tough Group C with Iran, Mongolia, Japan and Jordan. "Malaking hamon ito sa mga kabataan but I’m confident because they've prepared well for this," Eala said. The boys’ crew has its hands full against powerhouse Iran Wednesday when it hits the court at 9:45 a.m. before it clashes with the Mongolians later at 3:45 p.m. “Nakita ko ang players ng Mongolia, sa tingin ko kaya natin sila. I’m also not concerned about Iran. I hope I’m correct, pero ang 16-under (players) natin ay more at par with the Asian powerhouses. Marami rin kasing exposure ang youth team natin," Eala expressed. The RP cagebelles, for their part, battle the Kazakhs at 12:45 p.m. to jumpstart their bid in Group D which also has Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. “I like our chances better in the girls’ side, hindi tayo napasama sa talagang mabibigat. And these players trained with the national team, malalakas din sila," Eala said. Participants in the Fiba 3-on-3 event were divided into four groups in the preliminaries, where a team will play its group in a single round robin. The top two teams in each group will then move on to the quarterfinals. - GMANews.TV