Sanya: The main bulk of the 101-strong Team Philippines flies to China on Monday, two days ahead of the opening ceremony for the 6th Asian Beach Games (ABG), which is returning after a 10-year hiatus. Two-time jiu-jitsu world champion Annie Ramirez will carry the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony and parade of athletes at Yasha Park Phase 1 Ring Theater in the island resort city of Sanya.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cebu City will host the next ABG in 2028. "It will be a highly anticipated event for us as the next host of the Asian Beach Games. We will showcase not only our athletes' performance, but just as important as host," Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said in a news release Sunday. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro will join Tolentino in accepting the ABG flag during the closing ceremony on April 30.
In Sanya, the Philippines is entered in 3x3 basketball, open water swimming, water polo, aquathlon, beach athletics, beach handball, beach kabaddi, beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, dragon boat, jiu-jitsu, sailing, sport climbing, and teqball. Among the favorites for the medals, aside from Ramirez and teammate Kaila Napolis, are the women's beach volleyball squad of Thailand Southeast Asian Games gold winner Sunny Villapando who will team up with Sofiah Pagara, Khyle Progella, and Grydelle Matibag.
Other medal contenders are the basketball 3x3 quartets and triathlon's Raven Alcoseba and Erika Burgos in the women's side and the men's trio of Andrew Remolino, Inaki Lorbes, and Matthew Hermosa. The Philippines had so far won five gold, 10 silver, and 35 bronze medals in the ABG that staged its inaugurals in 2008 in Bali (Indonesia), followed by the 2010 Oman, 2012 Haiyang (China), and 2014 Phuket (Thailand).
