MANILA — The Philippine men’s curling team is seeking financial support following their groundbreaking gold medal victory at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China—marking the first-ever gold for the Philippines and any Southeast Asian nation in the Games.
The team, made up of siblings Enrico Gabriel and Marc Angelo Pfister, Christian Patrick Haller, Allan Beat Frei, and Benjo Delarmente, triumphed over South Korea with a 5-3 win in the final on February 14.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chair Abraham Tolentino emphasized the team’s financial struggles, explaining they cover their own expenses and need support for their upcoming Olympic qualifiers. “We need that financial support to sustain their journey to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games,” Tolentino stated.
Under Republic Act 10699, the team is set to receive a PHP 2 million incentive.
Christian Haller, a former Swiss national player, expressed gratitude, saying, “This is a testament that even as a tropical country, we can succeed in curling.” Marc Pfister added, “We are proud to represent the Philippines on the global stage.”
The team also earned notable victories, including a 10-4 win over Japan (ranked 10th) and a 7-6 victory over China (ranked 17th), finishing with a 4-1 record in the elimination rounds, their only loss being to South Korea in the opening match.
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