Hoping that seven rookies will rise to the occasion, the Philippine water polo team looks ready to shed off its bridesmaid tag in the 25th edition of the SEA Games in Laos this December.

Runner-up to Singapore in the last two editions of the biennial meet, the RP team, according to veteran member Dale Evangelista, is now equipped with the best materials to become the new lord of the pool.

“Mas mabibilis ang mga players namin ngayon. It’s a new team. With this development, sana mag-iba naman ang kapalaran namin at hindi naman puro silver na lang ang napapanalunan namin,” said Evangelista during Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan Forum on Padre Faura.

Joining the team for the first time are Jasper Ong, Juancho Abeio and Evan Grabador from University of the Philippines, Elcid Evangelista from San Sebastian College, Lambert Guiriba from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Kristoffer Dela Cruz from Mapua, and Dexter Alamara from Davao.

Other veterans of the team are Tani Gomez, Sherwin Dela Paz, Almax Laurel, Norton Alamara and Frazier Alamara.

Evangelista, who has been a member of the national team for 12 years, added they revamped the squad in January last year to give them enough time to train for the event.

The Singaporeans, according to Evangelista, are bannered by several naturalized players from China.

The inexperience of the rookie members, according to Evangelista, is not much of a problem for the team, saying: “Madali namang mag-adjust doon, basta bigyan lang kami ng exposure.

Siguro ’yung lang ang kulang sa amin para umangat ang laro namin.”

As part of their build-up for the SEA Games, the Filipinos will be taking part in the Singapore Water Polo Open on September 4 to 10 where they will have an opportunity to scout their Laos rivals.