MANILA, Feb. 16 -- The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will seek financial support for the national men's curling team following its historic win at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

It was the Philippines' and a Southeast Asian country's first ever gold in the quadrennial Games.

The squad, composed of siblings Enrico Gabriel and Marc Angelo Pfister, Christian Patrick Haller, Allan Beat Frei and Benjo Delarmente, defeated South Korea, 5-3, in the final on Feb. 14.

"They are paying for their expenses every time and it's not a joke. So we really need that financial support to sustain their journey to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games," POC chair Abraham Tolentino said at the team's media presentation in Tagaytay City ...