The Philippines is opening its SEA Games campaign with a historic turnout as the 33rd edition begins Tuesday, December 9,  at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok. Organizers are promising a vibrant ceremony to usher in 11 days of competition featuring elite athletes from across Southeast Asia.

Team Philippines is fielding its biggest delegation in history, estimated at up to 1,600 athletes and officials, in a bid to surpass or at least maintain its fifth-place finish from the 2023 Cambodia Games. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the goal mirrors the country’s previous output while acknowledging the renewed strength of several host-favored sports.

The Philippines finished fifth in 2023 with a haul of 58 golds, 86 silvers and 116 bronzes behind Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. Tolentino said this year’s bid will rely heavily on clear, decisive wins in combat sports, where the host nation is expected to be aggressive.

Athletes to watch as the Philippines opens its campaign

Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas will lead the delegation as flagbearers, marching alongside a streamlined 150-member group dressed in Avel Bacudio’s “Laro ng Lahi” collection. Security restrictions tied to the presence of King Vajiralongkorn have limited the Philippine contingent allowed inside the stadium, with athletes receiving priority for the ceremonial walk.

This year’s SEA Games hosts 12,506 athletes competing in 574 events across 50 sports, now split between Bangkok and Chonburi after flooding forced the removal of Songkhla as a venue. Several of the Philippines’ biggest medal hopes will compete in these clusters, led by Olympic weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, who may be making her final SEA Games appearance.

Alex Eala enters the Games coming off a season that propelled her into the WTA Top 50, and she will target her first SEA Games gold in women’s singles. Tennis will run through December 19 at the National Tennis Development Centre in Nonthaburi.

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, the region’s record holder and two-time Olympian, is heavily favored to dominate his event once again. Boxing remains another medal-rich ground for the Philippines, with Olympians Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas and Eumir Marcial headlining a seasoned squad.

Team sports, new events and the evolving medal landscape

Gilas Pilipinas returns to defend its basketball crown under tightened eligibility rules that bar naturalized players and late passport holders. The Alas Pilipinas volleyball teams are also drawing attention as they open their campaigns later in the week, while softball looks to sustain its steady medal output.

The delegation is managing expectations after the removal or reduction of events where Filipinos traditionally excel, including cue sports and individual gymnastics. The single-apparatus rule has sidelined Olympic double-gold medalist Carlos Yulo, creating gaps that officials hope will be filled by young talents developing under grassroots programs.

The Philippines is looking for strong results in martial arts, combat sports and several new team sports such as floorball, ice hockey and ice skating. Officials anticipate that the scale of the delegation could produce unexpected medalists in emerging events.

Beyond competition, the Games will lean on two major themes: a “Green SEA Games” focused on sustainability and net-zero goals, and a celebration of “Unforgettable Thai Culture and Sport,” blending heritage with the country’s modern athletic profile. The opening ceremony is expected to feature leading Thai celebrities, including widely reported appearances from global figures such as K-pop star BamBam.

The broadcast will reach audiences across Southeast Asia as Thailand aims to move past recent logistical challenges and position the Games for a dynamic, forward-looking edition.