EJ Obiena willing to skip SEA Games to make way for other national stars

Filipino pole vault icon EJ Obiena is prepared to skip the 2025 Southeast Asian Games for other national pole vault stars, as long as they can capture a gold medal.

Despite ending his official season with a gold medal at the inaugural Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, he is scheduled to compete in December for the SEA Games in Thailand.

“Yes, of course, that’s in the picture. We talk to my coach. We’re going to do what we’re going to do,” Obiena said. “If push comes to shove, I need to be strategic about it.”

The Olympian is ready to step aside, however, if fellow national team members Hokett de los Santos and Elijah Cole can show that they can win a gold medal before the event.

“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. But we will see how the season is going,” he said.

“Hokett is in good shape. Elijah is in good shape. We will see,” added Obiena.

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OBIENA IN MANILA WAS A STUNNA✨

Two-time Olympian EJ Obiena finally had the chance to showcase his world-class pole vaulting skills in front of the home crowd as he both hosted and dominated the inaugural #AtletangAyala World Pole Vault Challenge. | 📸 RM Chua pic.twitter.com/O62Rpfhqaz

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) September 21, 2025

De los Santos and Obiena competed in the 2021 SEA Games, where they notched a 1-2 finish. Cole participated in the 2023 iteration but failed to record a successful jump.

For Obiena, this year’s SEA Games is a chance for another national pole vaulter to step up and hopefully continue the legacy he built.

“We want to win. We need medals. We need to compete. But at the same time, I’m not going to be here forever. I’m not the oldest. I’m there, but we need the next guys to step up,” said Obiena.

“I don’t want to take a slot from them if they can win it. And I do believe in them. I know the pressure that’s going to be coming. I’ve seen Hokett do it under pressure. I know Eli (Cole) is training for it. And I do hope that come the time of the season, they’re going to be ready,” he added.

De los Santos is currently a trackster for UST and is a four-time UAAP gold medalist, while Cole won a gold medal in the pole vault event at the Philippine Athletics Championships last May.

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