THE Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) will pin its hopes on Filipino-American heavyweight Luke Cruz in the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 12-23.

In fact, Cruz is staying in the United States to train with top American heavyweights to help boost the Filipinos’ chances in the coronavirus-delayed biennial competition.

Speaking at the eighth “Sports On Air” program via Zoom, WAP president Alvin Aguilar said Cruz will arrive in the Philippines and join the SEAG-bound national team two weeks before its departure for Hanoi.

“Luke is a heavyweight. We don’t have a heavyweight here so staying there in the US is better. He can train with other heavyweights, so he’ll be better prepared for the SEAG,” Aguilar told the six-man panel composed of veteran journalists and bloggers.

“Kaya nga sabi ko sa kanya, huwag na siya pumunta dito. Just go here when it’s time for the SEA Games kasi baka mabitin pa siya ng training. You’ll never know na baka may bagong variant uli na lumabas, titigil na naman ng training and everything.”

“Pero at least mga two weeks in advance before the SEA Games, nandito na siya just to make sure na maayos ang jet lag niya. So dun na talaga ang training nya sa US. And then he just come here at the proper time.”

Asked about Cruz’s chances in the SEA Games, Aguilar is confident he can do it.

“Actually, pumunta na din siya dito before. He went sa SEA Championships, na dito sa Pilipinas ginanap.Nanalo siya ng gold medals sa freestyle at greco-roman events. Against everybody, totally dominating ang performance niya,” recalled Agular.

Aguilar said Cruz will only be one of the 11 wrestlers tapped to represent the country in the SEA Games.

The Cruz-led national teamis expected to match, if not surpass, the country’s haul of two golds, 11 silvers, and one bronze in the 2019 SEA Games.

The Filipinos finished second overall behind Vietnam, which had 12 golds and two silvers.

Thailand wound up third with two silvers and 10 bronzes and Cambodia had five bronzes.

“I am expecting a better result in Vietnam. The medalists in the last SEA Games, including the 10 silver medalists, will be in the lineup. Noel Norada, Alvin Lobreguito, Jiah Pingot and Jhonny Morte will be there again. So baligtad when we hosted SEAG in Manila. I think we’ll get more gold medals this time.”

Aguilar is confident his wrestlers are a lot better and more-experienced this time.

“Jiah will be much better. Remember she was a supposed to be gold medalist last time. Akala namin tapos na ang laban. Nagpahinga na siya. We thought she already won the gold, but then after one hour, they decided na one more fight. Sayang.”

“Lobreguito was also was on the way to the gold. He just lost in the last three seconds. So these are the mistakes that we made na pwede maayos. Okay lang magkamali, basta hindi na uulitin.”

Aguilar also said the SWP hopes to encourage more young men and women to try wrestling.

“I just wish na we would have a bigger pool to train with, so we don’t have to keep going abroad.Sa ibang bansa nga, may Tean A hanggang Team D or E pa sila. But I’m already working on it. As you know, I’m really focusing on our grassroots. We had national and regional tournaments even during the pandemic. You know, the show must go on no matter what happens,” explained Aguilar.

“As our country’s national sports association, we’re mandated to make sure that we still develop our sports no matter what’s happening. Dapat tuloy-tuloy tayo. We just have to exercise caution, and common sense and we can really make things happen,” added Aguilar

A total of 18 gold medals are at stake in the wrestling competitions to be held at the Gia Lam gymnasium on May 17-19. With reports from Gab Ferreras