World poomsae champions (L-R) Rani Ann Ortega, Camille Ararilla and Janice Lagman during a media interview Monday from inside their heavily-guarded Southeast Asian Games athletes’ village in Vientiane. (Photo by ALBERT GARCIA)

VIENTIANE — Three cousins who won the world poomsae title last week are eyeing the country’s first gold medal in the 25th Southeast Asian Games when taekwondo hostilities kick off Wednesday at the Booyong gymnasium at National University.

Fresh from their landmark win in the World Poomsae Championship in Cairo, Egypt, Rani Ann Ortega, Camille Alarilla, and Janice Lagman loom as the favorites to win the non-sparring event.

Poomsae, a competition that requires participants to demonstrate choreographed forms, is making its debut in the Games, staking five gold medals.

The Filipinas, the hands-down gold medalists in the looks department, returned home Friday night from Cairo and barely had time to wash their clothes for the trip here Sunday.

Ortega, the eldest of the three at 23, said they are excited to return to action, coming a week after edging Vietnam for the crown.

Coached by Igor Mella, the trio landed in the eight-team final for the first time and recalled being nervous as they waited for their turn.

Fifth in the order of performance, the Filipinas leaped on top of the standings after earning 8.1 points in the first form and 8.23 in the second form. The highest possible score is 10, taking the average score.

They stayed on top until Vietnam, the last to perform, matched their score in the first form.

“We were praying hard and leaped in joy after Vietnam scored only 8.07 in the second form,” said Ortega, a sports science graduate of the University of the Philippines.

All three grew up together and took up the sport almost the same time. They finished high school at Miriam before completing their college degrees in different schools.

Alarilla has earned a business degree from Ateneo while Lagman is a certified nurse from Trinity College of Asia.