MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia yesterday directed the national athletes to start their buildup for next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta as early as January in a bid to meet the PSC target of a top three finish in the biennial meet.
“Our athletes would be returning early January and I hope they start training by the middle of the month while we come up with a battle plan at the same time period,” said Garcia, during the PSC Christmas party at the PSC Badminton Hall yesterday.
Garcia batted for an early training as the country tries to atone for a dismal fifth place finish the last time out in 2009 in Laos although the PSC chief remained uncertain on the funds it would get from Pagcor to finance the country’s SEAG preparation.
“We still don’t know how much we’ll be getting from Pagcor,” said Garcia, who was joined in the bash with commissioners Jolly Gomez, Chito Loyzaga, Akiko Thomson and Buddy Andrada.
“But whether or not we get Pagcor funding, we’re going to find ways to get support and we will also maximize our remaining resources and make do with what we have,” he said.
Garcia stressed that the overall target of a top three finish in Jakarta is not far-fetched as he cited the country’s decent fifth place finish in last year’s Laos Games where the Filipinos harvested 38 gold, 35 silver and 51 bronze medals.
Eventual overall champion Thailand had an 86-83-97-medal haul while Vietnam (83-75-57), Indonesia (43-53-74) and Malaysia (40-40-59) finished second, third and fourth place, respectively.
“I would say that our performance in the SEA Games will be much better (than the previous fifth place standing in Laos last year) because our athletes should be better prepared. We should be at least in the Top 3, not in fifth or sixth spot anymore,” Garcia said.
Asked on what’s his assessment after his six-month stay as head of the PSC, Garcia refused to give any hint, saying the six months are too short for him to come up with a realistic evaluation.
“It’s hard to come up with an assessment because we’re at the PSC for six months. But if you could give me another year, then I would make a realistic analysis of everything we achieved,” he said
Gomez, for his part, had a more simplified wish.
“My wish for next year is for everyone to play sport whether its boxing, basketball, dancesport or anything, I just want to spread sports consciousness to everyone,” he said.
There are also plans to send the deserving athletes abroad to prepare them better for the Jakarta games.
“If we need to send them to China, to Cuba or wherever is appropriate to help them really improve, then we’ll send them there for buildup,” said Garcia.