CURRENT AND former UST athletes will gear up for the 20th Asian Games to be held from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.
The Philippines will be sending a 447-athlete delegation across 34 sports as the country looks to make its mark in the continental sporting competition.
Olympian EJ Obiena will headline the Thomasian delegates as he returns to defend his men’s pole vault crown after winning gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Games with a 5.90-meter clearance.
Former King Tiger Nic Cabañero will reunite with current Tiger Koji Buenaflor in the men’s 3×3 basketball, where they will team up with former Tiger Cub and current DLSU Green Archer Doy Dungo and Luis Pablo.
Meanwhile, UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Finals MVP Kent Pastrana will be making her Asian Games debut with the Gilas Pilipinas women’s 5×5 squad.
In volleyball, former UST Queen Tigress Eya Laure will banner the Alas Pilipinas women’s team, but the squad has been relegated to the qualification stage after suffering two losses to China and Kazakhstan.
Three-time UAAP men’s volleyball MVP Josh Ybañez will suit up as the Philippines’ lone libero in the men’s team, grouped with China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei.
On the sand, the SiPons tandem, featuring Growling Tigress Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, will make its Asian Games debut in the women’s beach volleyball, alongside former Tiger Sands Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara.
In jiu-jitsu, UST alumna Annie Ramirez will return to the Asian Games stage as she eyes another medal for the Philippines.
In judo, former Tiger Judoka Chino Sy Tancontian will make his Asian Games debut in the men’s -100-kilogram division, while fellow UST standout Khrizzie Pabulayan will compete in the women’s -78-kilogram category.
Meanwhile, Margaret “Garie” Fajardo will vie in the women’s 78-kilogram kurash event after being named an official Philippine representative in the discipline.
The baseball team will feature UST sluggers JR Vargas and Mark Beronilla, while softball mainstays Charlotte Sales and Royevel Palma will also represent Team PH in Nagoya.
UST’s presence will extend to fencing, with Janna Catantan, Alexa Larrazabal, Eunice Villanueva, and Noelito Jose Jr. set to banner the Philippine delegation in the sport.
The Asian Games will officially open on Sept. 19 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, although several sports, including volleyball, have already begun competition. F
