(UPDATE) POLE vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena is out to lead the charge for the Philippine athletics team which also includes hurdlers Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang at the Paris Olympics.
Obiena, the world No. 2 pole vaulter, will be the first to compete at the Stade de France in the men's qualification round on August 3 at 10 a.m. local time or around 4 p.m. in Manila.
Making his second straight Olympic appearance, Obiena is expected to reach the championship round which is set on August 5.
Obiena finished joint fourth at the Wanda Diamond League – Meeting De Paris on July 7 which served as his final competition before the Paris Games.
Meanwhile, Hoffman and Cabang will see action in their respective heats on August 4 also at the Stade de France.
The 25-year-old Hoffman, a Filipino American, will be competing in the women's 400m hurdles while Cabang-Tolentino in the men's 110m.
Cabang will run at 11:00 a.m. (5:00 p.m. Manila time), followed by Hoffman at 12:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Manila time).
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) Secretary-General Jasper Tanhueco said in Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum all three athletes are now in the final stages of their training in Europe with about two weeks left before the world's biggest sporting event finally goes full blast in the French capital.
Tanhueco, however, is not in the business of predicting on how the Filipino tracksters will do, especially Obiena, who is considered one of the top medal bets of 22 Philippine-athlete delegation.
"We're positive about our chances. I don't want to put pressure on these guys. But we know they've been training hard for them to reach this stage," said the Patafa official during the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country's 24/7 sports app, ArenaPlus.
"We just need to believe in our athletes. We're confident they will perform at the highest level. They're not there to participate but hopefully win medals for our country."
Cabang, who is currently in Spain with his coach, and Hoffman are eyeing to join the rest of the Philippine contingent in its training camp in Metz, France, either on July 23 or 24.
Obiena on the other hand, is in a secluded training camp in Italy with his three-man team of coach Vitaly Petrov, Dr. Antonio Guglieta (osteopath) and Dr. Sheryl Casuga (sports psychologist).
Tanhueco said there's no official word yet on when the Filipino delegation would be arriving in Paris as the Olympics gets underway on July 26.
"We're waiting for words from the POC. We're in communication with them on final dates on when we can enter the (Athletes') Village," added the Patafa official.
Patafa President Terry Capistrano will be leaving for Paris on July 23 and is set to join Team Philippines during the opening ceremony parade along with Hoffman.
Obiena, Hoffman, and Cabang are looking to give the Philippines its first medal in Olympic athletics in 88 years or since Miguel White claimed a bronze medal in the men's 400 meter hurdles at the 1936 Berlin Games.