The country's sports officials are confident that Team Philippines can still fulfill its goal of exceeding its medal count from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, as competitions in Aichi-Nagoya enter the final stretch.
As of September 30, the Philippines has three golds — two courtesy of celebrated gymnast Carlos Yulo and one from star pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said ahead of the Asiad that Filipino athletes can surpass the four medals won by the country in Hangzhou.
READ: POC chief optimistic Team PH can surpass Hangzhou medal haul in 20th Asiad
"Ang dami pa nating mapagkukunan [ng medals], may mga dagdag. May paghuhugutan niyan, whether team [or] individual," Tolentino said in August.
On Wednesday, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio told POC Media that the country remains on track towards this goal.
"'Yung kompiyansa po kasi, ang foundation niyan, 'yung preparasyon. 'Yung kompiyansa po, 'yan po 'yung talaga bang pinaghandaan ba natin?" he said.
"Opo, kompiyansa po ako, kompiyansa kami ni POC President Bambol Tolentino na talagang hihigitan natin 'yung apat," he added.
Tolentino and Gregorio had projected eight gold medals for Team Philippines, though one hopeful fell by the wayside on Wednesday when Sibol shockingly bowed out in the quarterfinals of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports event with an upset defeat to Indonesia.
Still in the medal hunt is boxer Carlo Paalam, who defeated a world champion from Kazakhstan on Wednesday on his way to the gold medal match of the men's 55kg division. Expectations are of course sky-high for Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, who is seeking not just gold but also a possible spot in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Fans cheer as Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam fights against China's Zhang Jiamao in the men's 55kg class in the 2026 Asian Games at the Nishio Gym in Nagoya, Japan on September 28, 2026. POC Media
Also in the running is the Alas Pilipinas beach pair of Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella, who reached the semifinals even as the veteran tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons bowed out.
"Ang pangarap natin, walo. Sabi nga nila, wala namang masama sa mangarap, libre naman 'yan. Kung walo, I think we will be so happy as a nation," said Gregorio. "Lagpas apat, we should be thankful as a nation."
Gregorio also touted the bright future of Philippine athletics, with Obiena keeping his throne as the continental king of pole vault while John Cabang Tolentino and Victoria Bossong emerged as rising stars in their events.
However, the sports agencies have also been put in an uncomfortable position after Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas revealed the financial difficulties that hounded the men's volleyball team in the build-up to the Asiad.
Gregorio lamented the issues that has plagued the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) in the past year, but guaranteed that they are working on the situation.
"Pero sinusuportahan ba ng PSC ang bagong liderato, Pangulong Frank Lao? Opo," he said. "Hindi po kasalanan ng POC, hindi po kasalanan ng PSC, at wala pong may kasalanan.
"Nag-transition lang po ang liderato nila. Sana po maintindihan ng mga tao na imposibleng ibalewala namin ang kapakanan ng mga atleta."
As of Wednesday, China has won a whopping 148 gold medals to top the table, followed by host Japan with 45 and South Korea with 24.
Thailand is the best-performing Southeast Asian country, with 12 gold medals so far.