World Archery Philippines has formed a relatively young team for the coming South East Asian Games in Vietnam in May this year.
This was announced by WAP after concluding its weeklong final qualifying tournament at the STI Gold Toe Archery Center in Marikina last Saturday, following a similar nationwide series of regional competitions in Davao, Cebu, Baguio, Dumaguete and the National Capital Region.
Members of the men’s compound team is led by 2019 SEAG gold medalist Paul Marton dela Cruz, who was automatically seeded together with Johann Olano and Flor Natari, with Arnold Stoney Rojas and Nino Maandig as reserves.
The women’s side will have Rachelle dela Cruz, who shared the mixed gold with husband Paul two years ago, Jennifer Chan and Andrea Robles, with reserve players Daphne Austria and Abby Tindugan.
The Philippines will also compete in the recurve event and named Jason Feliciano, Jonathan Reaport, and Girvin Garcia, together with Riley Silos and Chkeil Enecio as reserves to the men’s squad and sisters Gabrielle and Pia Bidaure, plus Phoebe Amistoso, with Danielle Danares and Keturah Gonzalez as reserve players in the distaff side.
“We believe that this team will surpass our lone gold medal in the mixed event in 2019. Definitely more medals, regardless of color. The team will have a series of tuneup tournaments here and in Thailand for an Asian Cup competition,” said WAP secretary general Dondon Sombrio, who flew in from Cebu last Saturday.
He also expressed belief that with WAP’s active grassroots program, the base of archers in the country is growing, as the team is dominated by young archers.
“It is good that with this Marikina facility, which we have designated as the training center for our national team, we now have an active partner and very good archery facilities for NCR,” concluded Sombrio.
Olympus Archery Club president Bing Reaport affirmed the group’s total support to the national team.
“We take pride in the fact that we have three members, who made it to the team,” said Reaport.