Tolentino said that the federation is pinning its Olympic hopes on Dormitorio, who is one of the highly-ranked Asians in mountain biking.

Dormitorio is currently ranked 161st in the world, while the Philippines is No. 47 in the nation rankings.

The concurrent Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president said four Olympic slots will be given to the continent in the mountain bike competition and Dormitorio needs only to maintain her rankings until the end of the qualification season to make it.

“The women’s ranking in Asia, Japan is number one, second China, third Iran, and fourth si Dormitorio. Apat lang ang kukunin sa mountain bike pagdating sa slot ng Asia, ‘yung Japan hindi na kailangan kunin ‘yun kasi host sila. So aangat ngayon si Dormitorio from fourth to third. Nandoon na ‘yung chance,” said Tolentino.

The 23-year-old MTB rider must compete in two weekends World Cup competitions in 2021 said Tolentino to get the much-needed Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) points for Olympic qualification.

“Talagang pasasalihin natin si Ariana doon para ma-maintain niya ‘yung ranking niya and get the top four in Asia. Ma-sustain lang ‘yun, may pag-asa.”

In Dormitorio’s most recent competition, the biker finished seventh in the Asian Mountain Bike Championship that took place in February. In the same month, she placed fifth in the HERO Dubai Cross Country marathon.