2007 Southeast Asian Games veterans

Two years after Manila hosted the Southeast Asian Games, A 591-strong Philippine contingent will try to defend the country’s overall crown in the 24th Southeast Asian Games set in three venues in Thailand in December.

Beijing Olympic qualifiers Ryan Arabejo, Miguel Molina and James Walsh of swimming and Tsomlee Go of taekwondo lead the list of Thailand-bound athletes named by the SEAG POC-PSC Task Force yesterday.

Filipino athletes will compete in 44 events in the 10-day sports spectacle opening Dec. 5 at the Nakhon Ratchasima Stadium.

Three hundred fifty-six male and 235 female athletes comprise the delegation which could have their hands full defending the championship they won at home turf in 2005.

Arabejo, Molina and Walsh spearhead the swimming team that includes Daniel Coakley, Nikita Dacera, Ernest Lorenzo Dee, Ronald Guiriba, Kendrick Uy, Denjylie Cordero, Anna Celina Gonzales, Jaclyn Pangilinan, Nicole Santiago and Erica Totten.

Go banners the taekwondo squad including Mike Alejandrino, Alexander Briones, Jeffrey Figueroa, John Paul Lizardo, Ernesto Juan Mendoza, Carlos Jose Padilla, Manuel Rivero, Kathleen Eunice Alora, Kirstie Elaine Alora, Loralie Catalan, Veronica Domingo, Mary Antoinette Rivero, Maria Criselda Roxas, Sabrina Simbulan and Esther Marie Singson.

Doha Asiad gold medalist Joan Tipon leads the 17-strong boxing team that also include Delfin Boholst, Junel Cantancio, Maraon Golez, Joegen Ladon, Wilfredo Lopez, Albert Pabila, Orlando Tacuyan Jr., Junie Tizon, Bill Vicera, Annie Albania, Alice Kate Aparri, Jouvilet Chilem, Annaliza Cruz, Josie Gabuco, Mitchelle Martinez and Renijen Sofla.

The RP Davis Cup team of Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro seeks to sustain its romp in the games. The women’s team is composed of Czarina Mae Arevalo, Maureen Diaz, Denise Dy and Diane Matias.

Basketball, football, futsal, lawn bowls, rugby football submitted names subject to final confirmation.

Curiously, Filipino-Am Alex Crisano, barred in the PBA due to lack of documents, is in the tentative men’s basketball lineup that also includes UAAP MVP winner Jervy Cruz and NCAA recruit Pong Escobal.

The ladies team named 12 players plus two alternates. In the list is US NCAA product Victoria Brick.

Athletics has the largest delegation with 40 followed by softball with 34, futsal and traditional boat race with 28 each, basketball and fencing with 24, baseball 22, football 20, cycling 19, shooting 17, taekwondo 16 and sepak takraw 15.