Filipina gymnasts Elizabeth Antone, Maxine Bondoc and Jellian Bantilan performed under heavy hometown expectations but were unable to crack the all-around finals at the FIG Junior World Championships. Late Friday night in Pasay City, the three contenders battled nerves inside a packed ballroom as Filipino supporters tried to lift them through the qualifier rounds.

The Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom erupted with cheers, but the intensity of the moment also heightened the pressure on the young national hopefuls. On Saturday, Nov. 22, their results were finalized, confirming that none made the top 24 required to move forward in the all-around competition.

Antone, previously an all-around bronze medalist at the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea, finished 37th with 47.632 points. She posted 12.600 on vault, 11.366 on uneven bars, 11.533 on balance beam and 12.133 on floor. The event was backed by the Office of the President, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Antone evaluates her performance under pressure

Antone admitted she felt out of sync and expected stronger execution from herself. She noted the setup felt tighter than what she was accustomed to but said she wants to return better prepared for the next opportunity.

Bondoc followed in 91st place with 41.299 points after two falls on the uneven bars, pulling her score down to 8.933. At only 13, she broke into tears after her routine and leaned on reserve teammate Sabina Tayag for comfort.

Bondoc and Bantilan regain composure after difficult routines

Bondoc later faced the mixed zone smiling, saying she was nervous because she knew how well she could do if she performed cleanly. Tayag said she supported her because mistakes can feel devastating for young athletes competing on a global platform.

Bantilan finished 107th with 39.199 points, rounding out the Philippine delegation’s standings. Paris Olympian Emma Malabuyo, serving as a broadcast analyst, empathized with the girls and said the tough outing was still part of their long-term growth. She encouraged them to treat the experience as fuel to return to training with stronger focus.

Malabuyo offered reassurance that learning to handle pressure is part of the journey and urged them to keep working through the challenges that come with competing at this level.