By The 29-year-old Obiena said that while the 2025 Southeast Asian Games is currently on his calendar, he also hopes for the possible inclusion of Hokett Delos Santos and Elijah Cole in the national lineup.
“That’s in the picture. I talked to my coach, we gotta do what we gotta do. I’m trying to get Hokett and, of course, the next guys in,” Obiena said, moments after winning the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati on Sunday.
“Right now, it’s on my calendar, it’s in my plan. But if Hokett can win it, and Elijah, I would love to have them really battle it out and gain the experience of winning a Southeast Asian Games. But we’ll see. Hokett is in good shape, Elijah is getting there, so we’ll see, “I don’t want to take a slot from them if they can win it—and I do believe in them. I know the kind of pressure that’s coming. I’ve seen Hokett perform under pressure, and I know Eli’s training hard. I hope that when the time comes, they’ll be ready.”
