Lucky 13 bound for Athens Olympics?

With qualifying tournaments over and done with by the end of next month, it seems that 13, lucky or otherwise, will be the official number of Filipino athletes seeing action in the Athens Olympics in August.

And unless a couple more make it through the backdoor as wildcard entries, then these athletes, the "Lucky 13," will have to carry the heavy load as the country continues its long, painful search for the Olympic gold.

"I think that’s it," said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain yesterday regarding the number of RP athletes going to Athens. There were 18 Filipinos who competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"In fact, we don’t have any requests coming in from the NSAs (national sports associations) regarding qualifying tournaments. But we wouldn’t mind if a couple more, probably in swimming or diving, make it at the last minute," he said.

Buhain, a former swimmer, said he had hoped for more, 20 in fact, to make it to the competition. But the toughness of the qualifying tournaments for the different sports only made it extremely difficult for the Filipinos.

Buhain cited the case of Harry Tañamor, probably the country’s brightest medal hope in boxing. He failed in the first two qualifiers in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and China, then caught the last bus just recently in Pakistan.

"Even our best boxer almost didn’t make it. That explains the toughness of the competition. Making it to the Olympics is not easy. Therefore, qualifying is already a major achievement for an athlete," said Buhain.

Aside from Tañamor, who’s fighting in the 48 kg class, other boxers bound for Athens are Violito Payla (51 kg), Romeo Brin (64 kg) and Fil-American Chris Camat (75 kg). Brin will provide the experience for the team, having competed in the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The other qualifiers are swimmers Miguel Molina (200-m free, 200-m breast, 200-m and 400-m individual medley) and Miguel Mendoza (400-m and 1,500-m free); tricksters Eduardo Buenavista (3,000-m steeple, 5,000-m and 10,000-m runs) and Lerma Bulauitan Gabito (long jump);

Shooter and former world champion Jethro Dionisio (individual trap); archer Jasmin Figueroa (individual); and taekwondo jinns Donald Geisler (68 to 80 kg), Tshomlee Go (under-58 kg) and Mary Antoinette Rivero (57 to 67 kg).

"All our hopes will lie on these thirteen athletes," said Buhain.

"I just hope that the number 13 would bring all the luck we need in the Olympics.

Thirteen is my lucky number because I got married on the 13th and our second daughter was born on the 13th," added the PSC chief.

Then he realized that the Athens Olympics, in August, fires on the 13th.