Philippine Sports and Entertainment Portal Online

SINGAPORE, July 1, 2009 -- The Philippines' campaign in the Asian Youth Games on Wednesday will be spearheaded by the bowlers as the Filipinos compete in six of the nine final events.

With vast experience in international competitions, the Filipino bowlers are dubbed as our top bets for a medal as the country starts its participation in the 43-nation, nine-sport, 94-events First Asian Youth Games.

On Wednesday's second-day action, former national team member and Asian Schools' silver medalist Dyan Coronacion, along with Louie Chua-Quico, Jose Collins and five others will carry the brunt for the bowling team as they challenge highly-favored Japan, Korea and host Singapore in the boys and girls' singles where they will play six games to immediately determine the top three for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Coach Caloy De Leon bared that the bowlers are all excited and have promised of doing all their best.

Shooting is another sport which the country leans on for a medal. Dianne and Isabelle Eufemio, Jayson Valdez and Allen Pinlac are entered in the boys' and girls' air rifle events.

Two tracksters are also medal hopefuls -- Alvin Bandian in the 110-meter hurdles finals and UAAP MVP Robert Nacis in the 800-meter preliminary round.

Lone diving bet Natasha Naluz of St. Paul carries a big task in the girls' three-meter springboard.

Meanwhile, the Filipino cagers begin their quest with big games. The Boys, coach by Erik Altamirano and led by Jeron Teng, tackle Iran in the 9:45 a.m. Group-D match and Mongolia at 3 p.m.-- while the RP girls face Kazakhstan at 12 noon.

The table tennis of Netters-Stephen Jaca and Elonah Tormis also open their campaign in the mixed team event.