The Philippine mixed doubles curling team made an unprecedented entrance into the winter sports arena Tuesday, shocking South Korea with a commanding 12-6 victory at the Ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.
The unranked Filipino duo of Filipino-Swedish Marc Pfister and Filipino-American Kathleen Dubberstein outmaneuvered world No. 13 South Korea’s Jihoon Seong and Kim Kyeongae in what marks the Philippines’ first-ever curling match at this level of competition.
The historic upset was followed by a decisive 10-2 victory over world No. 45 Kyrgyzstan, establishing the Philippines as a surprise contender in the tournament.
“We are definitely the underdog team here, but our athletes are here to compete and they are proud to represent the country,” said Curling Pilipinas secretary general Jarryd Bello, highlighting the team’s determination despite their newcomer status.
The Filipinos’ aggressive strategy paid off immediately with a stunning five-point surge in the opening end against South Korea, demonstrating tactical prowess uncommon for debutants in international competition.
After maintaining control through six ends with a narrow 7-6 lead, the Philippine team sealed their victory with another five-point explosion in the seventh end, forcing their experienced Korean opponents to concede.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino praised the unexpected success: “It’s indeed delightful news and a great start for Team Philippines. It’s morale-boosting ahead of this Friday’s opening ceremony, and I hope we stay this way.”
The tournament structure places 11 nations in two groups, with the Philippines competing in Group A alongside South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Chinese Taipei.
Group B consists of host China, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Thailand, with the top two teams from each group advancing to Friday’s semifinals.
Team Philippines chef de mission Ricky Lim expressed optimism about the team’s prospects.
“We got a 5-0 start, but South Korea made the game interesting. This win gives us and our other athletes hope, and I hope we sustain our winning ways up to the medal stage,” Lim said.
The victories are particularly significant given the Philippines’ limited winter sports infrastructure, marking a potential turning point for the country’s participation in winter athletics.
This breakthrough comes as the Philippine winter sports program continues to expand, with the country fielding athletes in multiple disciplines at the Asian Winter Games.
Short track speed skater Peter Groseclose and coach John Henry Krueger are already in Harbin preparing for Friday’s men’s 1,500-meter quarterfinal and the 500- and 1,000-meter heats.
The Philippine delegation will be further strengthened by the arrival of figure skaters Cathryn Limketkai and Sofia Frank on Saturday, followed by Paolo Borromeo, Isabella Gamez, and Alexandr Korovin on Sunday.
The tournament’s opening ceremony will be held Friday at the Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center, where the Philippine team’s unexpected early success has already made headlines.
The mixed doubles semifinals are scheduled for Friday, with the championship match to follow on Saturday, presenting the Philippines with a realistic chance at securing their first-ever winter sports medal in international competition.
