PSC warns NSAs vying for berths in SEAG team

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission yesterday warned the national sports associations (NSAs) that have insisted or are still insisting on their inclusion to the coming SEA Games despite small chances of winning.

“If they fail to perform well then they are risking their budget for next year. If you know you are not competitive, let’s not go there just for a vacation,” said PSC chairman Richie Garcia.

“Otherwise, you will have a bigger problem,” he added.

The PSC chief said they will use the coming SEA Games in Indonesia as a gauge on which NSAs will continue to enjoy full funding from the government sports agency next year.

The PSC plans to cut down on the support being given to non-performing NSAs, and Garcia said they might soon shift their focus to the 15 sports that normally deliver the medals.

Those NSAs that will fail to deliver in the Indonesia SEA Games set Nov. 11-22 may face a 50 percent cut in their budgets for 2012.

“This is not a threat but a fact. We plan to prioritize the sports for next year. From 52 NSAs we will narrow it down to 15 although I’m not saying the others will no longer be supported,” said Garcia.

“But there will be a shift in the financial assistance to these sports. So if you send your athletes to the SEA Games and you don’t produce then expect a reduction of 50 percent,” he added.

Garcia reminded the NSAs that since they know their athletes well, they should know whether or not they really have chances of winning medals in the SEA Games.

“You know your athletes better than the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission,” said the PSC chairman.

The PSC is short of cash but still agreed to fund 424 athletes to the SEA Games when originally its budget was only enough for 300 athletes. Businessman Manny V. Pangilinan made it happen by shelling out P10 million for the campaign.

The PSC is expecting another P10 million from Malacañang to beef up its meager budget of P30 million for the biennial event. Close to a hundred more athletes will make it to Indonesia through private sponsors.

Garcia cited the case of men’s futsal team (12 members) which had difficulty raising its own funds. Team officials suggested that they be allowed to touch what’s left of their current budget for their SEA Games campaign.

“Since they still have a budget for overseas exposure they want to realign it and use it for the SEA Games. Commissioner (Jolly) Gomez said since they are capable of winning, he is supporting the idea.

“But I want to remind them that they are also risking their budget for next year,” said Garcia, who cited the national volleyball team for pulling out of the Games after realizing they don’t stand a chance.

“On their own they decided not to go,” said Garcia.