MANILA, Philippines — Desidido ang underwater hockey team na makapag-ambag ng gintong medalya sa tangka ng Team Philippines na makuha ang overall championship title sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games na aarangkada mula Nobyembre 30 hanggang Disyembre 11 sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa.
Optimistiko ang koponan na makuha ang apat na gintong medalya sa underwater hockey.
Tiwala si Philippine Underwater Hockey Federation Dennis Valdes na maisasakatuparan ito ng koponan dahil sumailalim sa matinding pagsasanay ang tropa.
Sa katunayan, ginabayan ang pambansang koponan ng ahuhusay na trainers at coaches mula New Zealand at Australia para mas lalong mahasa ang Pinoy squad.
“I believe the Philippine UWH Team will do very well at the SEA Games. I am personally hoping to get four gold medals out of the four events. Of course, this cannot be guaranteed, but our athletes are training very hard for this goal,” wika ni Valdes sa pagbisita nito sa lingguhang Usapang Sports ng TOPS sa NPC sa Intramuros, Manila na hatid ng PAGCOR, Philippine Sports Commisison, CBA at National Press Club.
Paglalabanan ang gintong medalya sa men’s 4×4 at 6×6, at women’s 4×4 at 6×6 competition.
Lalaruin ito sa Disyembre 2 at 3 sa New Clark City sa Tarlac.
“On our SEAG journey last December, I told the prospective athletes that I want one year of their lives. This has not been an exaggeration. All have sacrificed an enormous amount of time this year. They have had to ask their families for understanding, their bosses at work for support, and most importantly, their own selves for the drive and capacity to keep training for an entire year just to peak during the week of SEAG,” dagdag ni Valdes.
Pamumunuan ang men’s team ni forward Topz Policarpo habang aarangkada naman sa women’s team si forward Nadj Buenafe.
Binabantayan ng Pinoy squad ang Singapore na isa sa pinakamatinik na karibal ng Pilipinas.