RISING ON SEAG ICE
Martinez banners Phl bid in ice sports debut in biennial meet
Filipino bets in figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey set out to bring honor to the Philippine delegation as they hit the rink for the very first time in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.
Out for SEAG glory in their maiden appearances are Winter Olympian Michael Martinez and fellow figure skater Jules Alpe, Samantha Cabiles and Alisson Perticheto, speed skater Kathryn Magno and the Team Pilipinas ice hockey squad.
“Very excited to be going to the SEA Games alongside the hockey team and our figure skaters,” Magno said in a presscon hosted by SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.
“This is the first time to feature ice sports in the SEA Games so we’re working very hard to show what the Philippines can do,” she added.
Magno won three golds in the 2016 Tri Series South East Asia Cup in Singapore and looks to sustain the momentum in Malaysia.
The Pinoy ice hockey team also seeks to duplicate the performance that enabled them to cop bronze in Division 2 of the 2017 Asian Winter Games.
“We’re hoping for the best, hope we’re going to make the country proud upon our return,” said Francois Gautier.
SMLEI reiterated its support to the team during the pre-SEAG presscon dubbed “Rise on Ice.”
“It gives us great pleasure to see our country, much more our homegrown athletes, participate in such a well-renowned event,” said SMLEI president Edgar Tejerero. “We at SMLEI have been long supporters of our ice athletes, and we are proud to be part of their journey towards international success.” SMLEI is the only company in the Philippines to carry Olympic size ice rinks through its brand “SM Skating.”