Hanoi Southeast Asian Games a battle for second?

MANILA, Philippines — Host Vietnam is favored to be the overall champion, with the rest of the traditional contenders, including the Philippines, expected to figure in a mad scramble for second place in the 31st Hanoi Southeast Asian Games set May 12-23.

“It will be a fight for No. 2 among Thailand, Malaysia and us Philippines,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino in yesterday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The congressman from Tagaytay said the Vietnamese would be hard to beat considering they retained the sports they are strong at and added new ones favorable to them while removing disciplines favorable to others.

Tolentino also considered Vietnam’s training and preparation.

“Vietnam never stopped training,” said the PhilCycling and POC chief.

Tolentino, however, isn’t completely ruling out the Philippines’ chance at defending the overall championship won in Manila in 2019.

“We have a chance to successfully defend, but it would be an uphill battle,” he said.