PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Philippines will kick off its campaign in the 12th Asean Para Games on Friday with the men’s team facing Indonesia in wheelchair basketball’s 3×3 competition at the Elephant Hall 1 inside the Morodok Techo Sports Complex.
The Filipinos, who bagged the silver medal last year, will battle the Indonesians at 10 a.m. to be followed by the matches against Cambodia at 2 p.m., Thailand at 4:30 p.m. and Malaysia at 6 p.m.
The women’s squad will tackle Laos at 1:30 p.m., host Cambodia at 3:30 p.m. and Malaysia at 6 p.m.
The medal round is scheduled Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, the 5×5 competition will start on Sunday with Cambodia taking on Malaysia at 9 a.m. in the men’s division.
Other matches pit the Philippines against Indonesia at 10:30 a.m. and Thailand against Malaysia at 4 p.m. while playing in the women’s division are Cambodia against Thailand at 1 p.m. and the Philippines against Laos at 2:30 p.m.
“We’re hoping for the best,” said head coach Vernon Perea, who is assisted by Harry Joseph Solanoy, Yolanda Hernandez and Juanito Mingarine.
The men’s 5×5 team won the silver medal while the women’s team placed fourth behind Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in 2022.
The men’s team is composed of Mark Vincent Aguilar, John Rey Escalante, Kenneth Christopher Tapia, Freddie Magdayo, Alfie Cabañog, Rene Macabenguil, Jannill Cañete, Clifford Trocino, Marlon Nacita, Jefferson Legacion, Kyle Carlo Carandang and Moises Escobar while the members of the women’s squad are Patricia Camille Castro, Lois Jean delos Reyes, Jocelyn Follero, Janet Briñas, Cathreen Gem Tanyag, Rhebilyn Aniban, Mary Joy Hernandez, Mylene Margaha, Ihoricel Panquico, Lorna Lilagan and Cecelia Wells.
The men’s 5×5 team has qualified for the Hangzhou Asian Para Games after winning the bronze medal at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Asia-Oceania Championships in Suphanburi, Thailand last month.
