Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed confidence that Filipino athletes have enough time to prepare for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) scheduled in Thailand late next year. Speaking from Bangkok, where he attended the SEA Games Federation Council meeting, Tolentino shared that the official dates for the games will be from December 9 to December 20, 2025, taking place in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla.

The upcoming edition will feature 581 events spanning 50 sports, along with three demonstration sports, including tug of war and ultimate frisbee. Tolentino emphasized the importance of early preparation, noting that the recent Olympic success in Paris has fueled national enthusiasm for the SEA Games.

“The time is right, and the opportunities are abundant,” said Tolentino. He encouraged the national sports associations to participate in as many sports as possible, aiming to build on the Philippines’ past achievements as the overall champion in 2005 and 2019.

He also highlighted the importance of adopting the strategies that led to the country’s historic victories, such as weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo’s Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2020 and gymnast Carlos Yulo’s double gold in Paris 2024. Tolentino stressed that a comprehensive approach—encompassing sport-specific coaching, nutrition, strength and conditioning, sports science, and psychological support—was essential in achieving world-class results.

As the Philippines prepares for the 2025 SEA Games, the focus will be on leveraging these strategies to deliver a strong performance in Thailand.