All quiet on RP front as big war looms

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — Members of the Philippine contingent went through light workouts then retreated to the confines of their quarters to await the final call of duty in the lull before the start of regional quest for sporting excellence in the 21st Southeast Asian Games starting Saturday here.

Chief of mission Freddie Jalasco led the raising of the Philippine flag before Filipino athletes and officials yesterday morning in simple ceremonies at the SEA Games Village and later declared the 364-strong Philippine contingent ready for the "big war" ahead in this country that last hosted the biennial meet in 1989.

"Most of the athletes are accounted for, and only a few more are scheduled to arrive Thursday and Friday from Manila," said Jalasco.

The various national teams competing in 29 sports had their light workouts in the venues situated here as well as in Penang and Jahore Bahru where other events are to be held during the 12-day meet which starts officially after the opening ceremonies Saturday.

However, some of the games, such as football, have already started even before the cauldron lights up in the state-of-art Kuala Lumpur football stadium.

The Philippine teams’ training suffered some hitches when athletes complained of the lack of shuttle buses to ferry them to their training venues.

"We had to hire buses to take our athletes to the venues because there seems to be a problem which the organizers are not able to solve at the moment," Jalasco said, adding that the three buses assigned to athletes at the Crown Princess Hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur have not been made available until yesterday morning.

Jalasco also noted transportation difficulties in Penang and Jahore Bahru, but discounted a deliberate attempt by the organizers to deny the Filipinos to try out the venues where competitions will be held.

First Gentleman Juan Miguel Arroyo was to meet with the Philippine contingent in a big Filipino party last night to psyche up the athletes to "fight for the gold for flag and country."

Also invited to the gathering were Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos "Butch" Tuason and his commissioners Amparo "Weena" Lim, Cynthia Carrion and Richie Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit.

A team captains’ meeting was held yesterday in swimming, diving, and waterpolo, while the Philippine archery team will know the pairings in the scheduled meeting today.

The Philippines open their campaign Sunday but the schedule of matches and player entries will not be known after the captains’ meetings Saturday.

The only schedules available are in billiards and snooker where Reynaldo Grandea and Marlon Manalo go up against Nguyen Thanh Long and Le Dac Tho of Vietnam in the first round of the best-of-five billiards doubles starting 10 a.m. Sunday. The winner will advance to the semifinals against the bye team of Thais Praprut Chathanasakun and Udon Khaimuk at 1 p.m. The finals will be held at 7 p.m.