It is officially all systems go for the Philippine delegation as they head to China for the 6th Asian Beach Games. POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino confirmed that 101 athletes are locked in for the event, which runs from April 22 to 30 in Sanya. The smell of salt air and high-intensity training must be thick in the training camps right now—or at least that’s the vibe Tolentino is projecting as the departure date nears.
There is a bit of a twist here, though. While the focus is obviously on the competition, the POC is arguably just as excited about the closing ceremony. Why? That is when the hosting rights for the 2028 Asian Beach Games officially get handed over to the Philippines, specifically Cebu. It is a big deal, a real milestone for the local sports scene, assuming everything goes off without a hitch in Sanya.
Annie Ramirez, the two-time gold medalist in jiu-jitsu, is set to lead the pack. She’s joined by Kaila Napolis, and there is a lot of weight on the women’s beach volleyball team, too. You’ve got Sunny Villapando—fresh off her gold at the SEA Games—teaming up with Sofiah Pagara, Khyle Progella, and Grydelle Matibag. It’s a solid lineup, though to be honest, predicting exactly how many medals they’ll bring back is a total guessing game.
“It’s been 10 years since the last Beach Games,” Tolentino pointed out, noting the long break since the 2016 games in Da Nang. The history of this event is a bit scattered, going back to Bali in 2008 and then moving through Oman, Haiyang, and Phuket. It feels like a long time to keep momentum going, but here we are.
Then there are the 3×3 basketball squads and the triathletes like Raven Alcoseba, Erika Burgos, Andrew Remolino, Inaki Lorbes, and Matthew Hermosa. These guys already proved themselves at the last SEA Games. They’re capable, certainly, but international beach games are a different animal entirely.
The 45 national Olympic committees of the Olympic Council of Asia are all expected to show up. Plus, there are invitees from places like Australia and Tahiti. It’s going to be crowded on those beaches. We’ll see if the preparation holds up under that kind of pressure—or if the decade-long gap leaves everyone a bit rusty.