RP pins Busan hopes on 3 Bs

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Eric Buhain and RP delegation Chef de Mission Tom Carrasco are one in saying that prospects are bright as far as the country’s coming campaign in the Busan Asian Games is concerned.

So vocal the two officials are, they readily defied the odds by predicting that the Filipinos are capable of delivering four golds – or more – in the quadrennial meet set Sept. 29-Oct. 14.

"Realistically, between four to seven gold medals are possible," admitted Buhain in the PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn.

Carrasco, fresh from Busan, South Korea where he attended the meeting among the different Chef de Missions, was even more bolder.

"I could only express my wish that we can win 10 gold medals," he added in the same forum which has Red Bull, Agfa Colors and Pioneer Insurance for sponsors.

Their medal count may be different but the two did agree on the possible sports where the Philippines can excel.

Carrasco is pinning his hopes on what he termed as the three Bs – billiards, boxing and bowling – with Buhain adding taekwondo, especially in the lighter categories, wushu and rowing.

"We’ve not included golf yet, where we are good as individual but excel even better as a team," said Buhain.

The PSC chair stressed that with the athletes in high spirits and his office in close coordination with the joint Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Task Force, the target of surpassing the one gold medal the country won in the Bangkok Asiad four years ago is achievable.

So far, the country’s delegation has reached the 270 mark and could number to about 300 with the inclusion of PSC and POC officials, medical and other additional staff.

Buhain said the official RP contingent lineup would not be finalized until Aug. 30, so any changes are still possible provided the athletes are really qualified.

"We can’t close the door to all athletes who can qualify. If they do qualify and they deserved it, then we’ll do everything to send them," he added.