RP karatekas eye 7 SEAG gold medals

Karatedo National Sports Association president Ed Ponce makes a bold prediction that the Philippine team guarantees a minimum of seven gold medals apart from its target is to finish over-all champion in the coming SEAG this November here at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

In an interview with Ponce, he said he feels confident with the team especially now that they have changed their training system.

There are 18 gold medals at stake in karatedo.

"Our previous training lacked continuity because the RP's coach and trainer is Italian and will just be in the country for three-four months. Hindi maganda so we decided to send the players there instead, for them to concentrate with the help of PSC and San Miguel Corporation," said Ponce.

The Philippines finished third place in the 2003 SEAG in Vietnam with its host as the over-all champion, while Myanmar is slowly catching up.

The country's top seven karatekas are currently in Italy for a rigid training with Italian coach Guiseppe Romano, who is the 1991 World Champion, starting May 15 of this year and will be coming back in October.

They are Cherli Tugday, Gretchen Malalad, Bernardino Chu, Ireneo Turibio, Junnel Perania, Nelson Pacalso and Joel Gonzaga.

The Filipino karatekas already brought pride to the country by winning three golds both in the Italian and France Karatedo Open after touring in the different parts of Europe.

"Without sounding too over-confident I feel we will surely get seven gold medals. It is our target that all seven of them will win gold medal each," said Ponce.

The RP team members who arrived last Thursday who will also see action today in the pre-SEAG Karatedo event, representing the Philippines are Cebuanos Sugar Ray Metante, Luchi Metante and Noel Espinosa.

Games will start at 9 a.m. while the opening salvo will kick off at 1:00 in the afternoon.

Events to be contested are Batang Pinoy, Age group (8-9 years old, 9-10, 11-12,13-14,15-16) in kata and kumite, while the juniors and seniors will be played on Sunday.

Ponce lauded Mandaue and CebuSoc for its impressive job in terms of preparation and accommodation as the co-host in the biennial meet.

On the other hand, Mandaue Sports Commission chairman Cheryl Ouano dispense another P120,000 to fix minor hitches in the venue.

"We will purchase tiles for the flooring and repair some portions in the ceiling because it drips when it rains," said Ouano.