MANILA -- Ice skater Michael Martinez is expected to attend a series of competitions in the United States to prepare for the Southeast Asian Games.

Stephanie Henares-De La Pena of SM Lifestyle and Entertainment said the tournaments will serve as a venue for Martinez to test himself not only ahead of the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in August but also the all-important Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany in September.

"Martinez will have competitions in the US and he’s focusing on his jumps and completing his routine,” Henares-De La Pena said at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum at Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.

“He’s testing them out to prepare for the Southeast Asian Games and the Nebelhorn Trophy.”

The Neberhorn Trophy, which will take place in Oberstdorf, Germany, will be Martinez's last chance to make it to the 2018 Winter Games in Peongchang, South Korea.

Martinez was supposed to have qualified for the 2018 Winter Games following a 24th place finish in the recent world figure skating championship in Helsinki, Finland.

But he was dislodged from the list after Japan, which finished 1-2, along with Canada (5th and 9th), the United States (6th and 7th) and Russia (8th and 11th), were each allowed to add one skater to the their list of Olympic entries.

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