Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr., president of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the RP equestrian association, isn’t alarmed the Nationals have yet to strike a gold medal a week after the shooting competition of the 24th Southeast Asian Games started in Bangkok, Thailand.
“I keep on saying this and I’ll say it again. It’s not all about winning the gold, its how you conduct yourself there,” said Cojuangco in yesterday’s final sendoff of the RP men and women basketball teams in a restaurant in Quezon City.
Cojuangco said the athletes shouldn’t be blamed.
“They have better equipment than us, that’s the bottom line,” said Cojuangco.
The lack of state-of-the-art equipment took its tool on the RP shooters, particularly on Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, whose gun jammed thrice that cost the country three potential gold medals.
“We have to address this problem after the SEA Games,” said Cojuangco.
To date, RP could only cop three silver medals and one bronze – all in shooting.
That is good only for seventh place and way behind the host Thais, who have scooped up 15 gold medals with the bulk of the events starting on Dec. 7.
Although he isn’t worried, Cojuangco said he’s apprehensive the Philippines could retain the overall title it last won in the 2005 Manila Games.
“It’s going to be difficult especially since there are many subjective sports that will be played in Thailand,” said Cojuangco. “But we can never say.” – Joey Villar