Camille Naredo

EJ Obiena in action at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle, September 21, 2025. Handout/CIGNAL

EJ Obiena in action at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle, September 21, 2025.

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Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17585255961382025_WORLDPOLEVAULTCHALLENGE-2511.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="EJ Obiena in action at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle, September 21, 2025. Handout/CIGNAL"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">EJ Obiena in action at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle, September 21, 2025. <em>Handout/CIGNAL</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena may opt to skip the Southeast Asian Games in December and instead bank on the next generation of pole vaulters to represent the country.</p><p>Obiena, a three-time gold medalist in the SEA Games and holder of the Asian record, still has the SEA Games in his calendar but revealed that he may give way to younger athletes such as Hokett delos Santos and Elijah Cole. </p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re gonna be strategic about it. Right now, it is on the calendar. It is on my plan, but if Hokett can win it and Elijah, I would love to have them really battle it out and have the experience of winning the Southeast Asian Games,&quot; said Obiena.</p><p>Obiena was speaking after his home meet, the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle on Sunday, which saw him top the podium after clearing 5.80-meters.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/9/21/ej-obiena-puts-on-a-show-rules-home-pole-vault-competition-1810">READ: EJ Obiena puts on a show, rules home pole vault competition</a></div><p>Delos Santos had joined the field of world-class competitors on Sunday after beating local athletes the day before, in the National Pole Vault Competition. </p><p>The 22-year-old standout from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) no-heighted on Sunday, but Obiena was pleased with the effort he saw from Delos Santos. </p><p>&quot;You know, it&#x27;s a really good opportunity for him, even though the result didn&#x27;t play out the way I believe he wanted,&quot; said Obiena. </p><p>&quot;This is the first time he stepped foot on the track with us. He might have the nerves, he might have gotten intimidated,&quot; he noted. &quot;That was me (at) first in Europe. But you get to learn this… I think, he might have no-heighted this time, I think this is a huge step for him when it comes to experience.&quot;</p><p>Delos Santos, who has cleared five-meters in his career, was the silver medalist in 2021 in Vietnam when Obiena won a second gold.</p><p>The two-time Olympian believes that when delos Santos returns to the SEA Games stage, it will be a &quot;walk in the park&quot; for him.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758525645158UAAPS87 Athletics - Hokett Delos Santos (UST)-8554.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UST&#x27;s Hokett delos Santos in action in the UAAP Season 87 athletics competition. UAAP Media/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">UST&#x27;s Hokett delos Santos in action in the UAAP Season 87 athletics competition. <em>UAAP Media/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;The nerves aren&#x27;t gonna be there, or at least it&#x27;s gonna be there but he has the experience to control it, use it and really hopefully, one day, love it,&quot; said Obiena.</p><p>&quot;We need the next guys to step up, and as I said, the reason why we put Hokett on the stage today -- nerves and all -- was to get him the experience of competing with the best of the best, with the pressure on his shoulder to deliver. And with that SEA Games is another stepping stone for these guys,&quot; he added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/9/19/ej-obiena-realizes-a-dream-with-world-pole-vault-challenge-1345">READ: EJ Obiena realizes a dream with World Pole Vault Challenge</a></div><p>While nothing is final and Obiena maintains that the regional meet is still in the cards for him, he is also putting his confidence in both delos Santos and Cole.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t want to take a slot from them, if they can win it, and I do believe in them. I know the pressure that&#x27;s gonna be coming. I&#x27;ve seen Hokett do it under pressure. I know Eli is training for it. I do  hope that come the time of the season, they&#x27;re gonna be ready,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;If they&#x27;re ready, why -- if we&#x27;re gonna win the gold, why should I take the experience from them? I think it&#x27;s a waste, and I would want the next generation to step up and really have a continuous world-class pole vaulters for the country,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xKa-LElLiE0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena may opt to skip the Southeast Asian Games in December and instead bank on the next generation of pole vaulters to represent the country.</p>

Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena may opt to skip the Southeast Asian Games in December and instead bank on the next generation of pole vaulters to represent the country.

EJ Obiena may give way in SEA Games to next generation of Pinoy pole vaulters

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EJ Obiena may give way in SEA Games to next generation of Pinoy pole vaulters

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 22, 2025 04:14 PM PHT

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abssports

pole vault

EJ Obiena

Hokett delos Santos

Southeast Asian Games

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