PSC retains services of Chinese, US coaches

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission recently extended the contracts of a couple of foreign coaches in a bid to boost the country’s medal chances in the 26th Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 11-25 in Palembang and Jakarta, Indonesia.

In its recent board meeting, the government sports funding agency renew the contracts of fencing’s Chinese coach Wang Qing and beach volleyball’s American mentor Eric Lecain for another year.

Wang will specifically focus on the saber event and will receive a monthly salary of $1,600 starting April 20 this year and ending on April 19 next year. Lecain, on the other hand, will get $1,500 a month that started last January and will end on Dec. 31 this year as indicated in Resolution Nos. 137-2011 and 103-2011.

PSC chair Richie Garcia said Wang and Lecain are two of the several foreign coaches under the agency’s payroll. The others are in triathlon, wushu, windsurfing, shooting, gymnastics, taekwondo, rugby and football.

“It’s already approved and we hope to get good results,” said Garcia.

Football, of course, is mentored by German Hans Michael Weiss, whose Azkals advanced to the AFC Challenge Cup group stage despite a 1-2 loss Tuesday in Mongolia as Phl posted a superior aggregate score of 3-2 following the Azkals’ 2-0 win in Bacolod City last month.

Basketball has Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman, who, however, is being paid by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Boxing, which has tapped Cuban coaches in the past, might end up relying on local coaches in its hunt for the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal.