Editor's Note: Published on page A38 of the May 15, 2006 issue
of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
MIEL PAHATI looks anything but the country’s top bet in sport climbing.
So it no longer came as a surprise when reporters mistook him for one of the
public relation officers during a recent press briefing.
Wearing a blue tie and a striped white polo shirt, the youthful Pahati did
look more like a Makati office employee than an extreme game enthusiast.
And with his polite demeanor and lean frame, it was hard to imagine where
Pahati gets the strength and aggressiveness that made him one of the top Asian
climbers in the bouldering event.
“Last year, it was my first time in the (Asian) X-Games. But after the
semifinals, I was number one,” said Pahati. “And they were like, ‘Who’s that
Filipino? He’s so thin, he’s just new.’ They were surprised.”
The 24-year-old Pahati impressively finished fourth in last year’s edition in
South Korea.
So this year, it’s likely that Pahati will be among the climbers to watch in
the ESPN X-Games Asia 2006 set in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
“Of course, we’d like to be in the top three this year,” said Pahati. “Last
year we came really close, but there was a slight slip in the end. I guess we’re
more mature this year and more solid.”
Pahati will spearhead the Philippine team composed of Justin Calingasan <-ME haha!, Jeff
Capili, Christian Guerrero <-mali spelling hehe, Ina Flores and Kristine Robles.
Although the six athletes have been diligently training for the multi-event
competition, head coach Joey Cuerdo said sport climbing demands more than
physical strength.
“Climbing has a lot of analysis,” said Cuerdo. “It has a lot of connection
between the mental and the physical.”
The Philippines will see action in two of the three events -- bouldering and
speed climbing.
More than 200 athletes from the Asia Pacific region will also be competing in
aggressive in-line skating and skateboarding. A Moto X demonstration will be
among the sidelights of the event.
A new rule in this year’s bouldering competition might make it tougher for
the local bets. There will be no more trial period that will allow athletes to
practice the course. Still, Pahati remains undaunted.
“You won’t see what you’re going to climb on until the last minute, the
actual competition,” said Pahati. “It’s a bit tougher because there’s pressure,
you don’t know what you’re getting into. I like it better that way.
