POC: RP aiming for 'at least' 3rd place finish in SEAG
by Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/04/2009 1:44 AM
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MANILA -- The Philippines is looking to finish “at least” third in the 25th edition of the Southeast Asian Games to be held in Vientiane, Laos, according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sports and rules committee chief Go Teng Kok.
“If we can make it at 50 [gold medals], minimum, we are safe in third place,” said Go, who graced Tuesday’s PSA forum with POC spokesman Jose Romansanta and SEAG chef de mission Mario Tanchangco.
The Philippines is practically facing great odds against powerhouse nations Thailand and Malaysia, which will reportedly enjoy the sporting edge in Laos.
Some sports where RP excels, including basketball, are not listed among the events of this year’s biennial meet.
Go said, however, RP can rely on other sports.
“Track and field, swimming and billiards, they already have more than 20 gold medalists,” he said.
“You’d divide all the other medals to like taekwondo, nakikita ko for sure three and up ang gold medals noon. Yung ibang NSAs (national sports associations) pag nakita mo like karate, safe na ‘yong two. Sa boxing safe na ‘yong three. If you add all these up, lalabas ‘yon more than 50 [gold medals],” he added.
During the 23rd SEAG in Manila, RP copped the over-all championship with 113 gold medals, 84 silvers and 94 bronze. The country, however, fell to 6th place in the following SEAG in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, where it was only to get 42 gold medals, 91 silvers and 96 bronzes.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) earlier announced it will be financing 153 Filipino athletes to SEAG.
But the POC is working to fund 94 more athletes to boost the country’s chances in Vientiane.
Romasanta said POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco has already raised 75 percent of the additional funds.
“Mr. Cojuangco is confident that he will have the funds,” he said.
The POC said it would need P5 million to fund the additional 94 Filipino athletes.
Romasanta said it is important to send the additional bets especially the younger ones.
“Hindi naman puwede iyong kandidato lang natin na lumaban na sa 2007 Southeast Asian Games. Kelangan may pagkakasunod-sunod tayo, parang assembly line na kapag may tumanda o tumigil na o di na nag-qualify, mayroon agad kasunod,” he said.
Tanchangco, for his part, said they will beat the new deadline set by the Laos SEAG Organizing Committee (LAGOC) for the submission of RP’s final line up.
The RP officials had cited the spate of recent typhoons that hit the country as the reason behind their failure to meet LAGOC’s first deadline set last October 26.
“We informed the Laos Organizing Committee that we had several typhoons here the past few weeks and asked for an extension. They agreed to extend the deadline until today (Tuesday),” said Go.
Tanchangco said the delay in the submission of the roster would not jeopardize the timetable of events for the SEAG.
“They are just waiting for our lineups so they can make the pairings for the events,” Tanchangco said. With a report from the Philippine Star
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