PODIUM finishes are expected of the national men’s and women’s team when the Philippines hosts the Asia Archery Cup Leg 2, which officially reels off today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball field.
World no. 103 Earl Yap leads the Philippine campaign and he is expected to shine in the compound event.
Having made it to the second round of the World Championships in Salt Lake City, Yap boasts of a good chance to earn a medal/s.
Marlon de la Cruz and Joseph Vicencio will join Yap in coming up with medal finishes.
The national women’s compound team is led by Jennifer Chan, Amaya Paz-Cojuangco and Rachelle de la Cruz.
“This is Asian Cup level. The competition is really tough. Pero kakayanin,” said national men’s coach Clint Sayo.
The last time the Philippines had a great finish in the tournament was in the 2015 Asia Cup in Bangkok, where Paz-Cojuangco led the nationals to seven gold medals.
Paz-Cojuangco claimed five gold medals, topping the qualification round of the individual women’s compound, women’s compound team with Jennifer Chan and Andrea Robles and mixed compound team with Jose Ferdinand Adriano.
Paz-Cojuangco joined Chan and Robles as they beat India, 224-223, in the finals of the Olympic round of the women’s compound team, before teaming up with Adriano in the Olympic round of the mixed compound team finals to beat China, 151-142, to also capture the gold.
Adriano also won the gold in the qualification round of the individual men’s compound and the men’s compound team.
Twelve countries are seeing action, with medallists from top entries Korea, Taipei and China expected to make their presence felt.
Also joining are archers from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Qatar and Thailand.