Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino called for increased support for the country’s Olympic sports as Team Philippines shifts its focus to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics following its campaign in the 20th Asian Games.

“Funding, lahat ng available qualifying, labanan na, salihan na. Huwag na magtipid. Foreign coaches, yun na nga yun, exposures,” Tolentino said, urging the Philippine Sports Commission to maximize available resources for athletes preparing for the next Olympic cycle.

Tolentino said the Philippines’ performance in Aichi-Nagoya showed the progress of its athletes, particularly after the country matched its four-gold output from the 2018 Asian Games while improving its silver and bronze medal haul.

“Hindi nga lang nadagdagan yung gold, pero nadagdagan naman yung silvers and bronzes. At saka yung total, di ba? Nalampasan natin. Madami tayong nalampasan,” he said.

He also pointed out that all four of the Philippines’ gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya were won by male athletes, contrasting this with the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, where all four gold medals were won by Filipina athletes.

“Ngayon, nanaig ang mga lalaki,” Tolentino said. “Sa Palembang, apat na golds. Puro female yun. May ibig sabihin din yun. Nakaka-recover na yung mga lalaki.”

Tolentino said he was satisfied with the overall result, particularly because almost all of the country’s medals came from Olympic sports.

“Masaya ba tayo sa resulta? Yes. Dahil nga dun sa record-breaking natin. And, almost all medals from Olympic sports,” he said.

With the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away, Tolentino called for greater investment in Olympic sports, including funding, qualification events, foreign coaches and international exposure.

“Yan yung dapat tutukan kasi we're talking now of let's move forward, we're talking of LA Olympics,” Tolentino said.