'Win hearts, medals in Guangzhou'

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. yesterday urged the 188-man national contingent waging battle in next week’s Asian Games not only to win medals but also the hearts of the rest of the competing field in the quadrennial meet slated Nov. 12-27 in Guangzhou, China.

“My wish for everyone when we go out and compete is just to show the rest of the world what Filipinos are made of,” said Cojuangco during the send-off rites graced by the bulk of the Phl delegation and officials at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

“We have to show we’re sportsmen for us to win their hearts,” Cojuangco said.

Except for some, Guangzhou-bound athletes were all accounted for, including US-based tankers Miguel Molina and Daniel Coakley, Grandmasters Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio and Darwin Laylo, cue artist Rubilen Amit and members of the Smart Gilas basketball team.

Cojuangco, who will leave for Guangzhou on Nov. 11, didn’t make any forecast but Phl sports officials remained confident of the contingent’s medal prospects in the 16-day event.

“We’re not into predictions but we’re confident of our chances,” said chief of mission Joey Romasanta.

A Mass was later celebrated for the athletes.

Others present during the send-off were deputy Jeff Tamayo of soft tennis, commissioner Chito Loyzaga of the Philippine Sports Commission, technical group chief Moying Martelino and heads of the various NSAs (national sports associations).

PSC commissioners Akiko Thompson, Salvador Andrada and Jolly Gomez, POC deputy secretary-general Mark Joseph of swimming and Chinese embassy representative Bai Ti Yan came in a few minutes later while PSC chair Richie Garcia fought through traffic and made it in time for the Mass and dinner.

“We wish all our athletes well,” said Garcia.

Martelino, the man in charge of all technical aspects of the country’s participation, Tamayo, Loyzaga and Romasanta later briefed the athletes on what and what not to do when in China to prevent any untoward incident.

“We’ll not take chances, we’re going to make the departure as smooth as possible that’s why we have this briefing,” said Romasanta.

Loyzaga, member of the 1990 cage team that bagged the silver medal in Beijing Asiad, will leave for China on Sunday along with 10 other officials as advance party for the Nationals.

GM Wesley So, the country’s best bet in rapid chess and team competition, failed to attend the rites as he is still competing in the US as part of his Asiad buildup but is expected to join the team next week.

Pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes didn’t make it to the send-off as well as Francisco “Django” Bustamante but their presence in the team is a big boost to the country’s gold medal chances in the sport.

The four Filipino athletes who won the golds in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar -- boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon, cue artist Antonio Gabica and wushu artist Rene Catalan – will not be in this year’s contingent.

Three of the six silver medalists in Doha, however, are back, including Maria Marna Pabillore of karatedo, Tshomlee Go of taekwondo and Eduard Folayang of wushu.