Philippine skateboarders to use home turf edge to the hilt

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino skateboarders led by 2018 Asian Games champion Margielyn Didal will enjoy the homecourt advantage when they vie for the gold in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in November.

“We are the hosts. We have to use that to our advantage,” said Skateboard Association of the Philippines (SAP) chief Monty Mendigoria.

 Mendigoria said they are more inclined to use a skateboard park being built in Tagaytay as venue of the SEA Games. It’s actually a BMX park but Philippine Cycling Association president Abraham Tolentino had a competitive skateboard park built in the venue.

But Mendigoria said builders have to make sure that the track will suit the Filipino skateboarders, including Fil-American Kiko Francisco, who is tipped to win the gold medal in men’s park.

“Kiko is No. 21 in the world. We have another Fil-American who is No. 29 in the world. Margielyn is No. 14 in the world,” said Mendigoria.

The Filipino skateboarders are the best in Southeast Asia while the Japanese are the best in Asia. No wonder the Filipino skateboarding chief is so upbeat about the chances in the SEA Games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

“We are targeting eight out of eight gold medals,” he said last Sunday during an SAP judges seminar and accreditation examination in Quezon City.

Didal is currently busy seeking a slot to the 2020 Olympics, and has events lined up in London, Spain, Japan and China.

“We need the help of the Philippine Sports Commission because Margielyn cannot afford to miss any of these events. Only 80 skateboarders (40 male and 40 female) will make it to Tokyo in 2010.