US-based ace dropped from tennis team

JAKARTA – Only the lawn tennis association was affected after the marathon delegation registration meeting for the 26th Southeast Asian Games that formally opens in the city of Palembang on Nov. 11.

United States Tennis Association-trained Dennis Lajola was dropped from the roster to give way to veteran Johnny Arcilla, who will team up with another US-based player, Denise Dy in the mixed doubles and Treat Huey for the men’s doubles.

“He communicated rather belatedly that he was not given the green light to play for the SEAG by the USTA which trains him,” said tennis association secretary-general and deputy chef de mission Romeo Magat.

Also in the men’s team are Cecil Mamiit and youthful Jeson Patrombon while in the women’s side are Clarisse Patrimonio and Mariane Jade Capadocia.

Inspired by the bounty from Laos in 2009 – two gold, two silver and two bronze medals – Magat indicated that the teams are eyeing to improve their performance considering that they now have some fresh legs in Patrombon, Capadocia and Dy.

The delegation registration staff worked double time on Wednesday and early Thursday to address the issues on accommodations, transportation and accreditation in all venues including Jakarta, Palembang and West Java.

“We encountered some difficulties on logistical requirements. It’s a good thing that we sent experienced members in our registration staff so we were able to make the necessary adjustments,” Magat said.

The delegation registration assured the trouble-free entry and stay of all 747 members of the Philippine delegation, the bulk flying in on Nov. 8 and 10 including Philippine Olympic Committee officials headed by President Jose Cojuangco Jr.

It appears, however, that the local organizers are in a frantic race against time to secure the competition equipment needed.

Agnes Winarti and Niken Prathivi of the Jakarta Post reported that with only eight days to go, competition equipment has yet to arrive in Indonesia.

The two reporters quoted Indonesia chef de mission Tono Suratman as having said that “the rowing and cycling teams have not received their equipment yet.”

Rita Subowo, head of the INASOC, disclosed that the delivery was withheld by suppliers due to the failure of the Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry to settle 15.7 billion rupiah (roughly $1.8 billion) that the government has allotted for the country’s 42 sports associations.

The Philippines is entered in 39 of the 42 regular sports in the calendar and Filipino sports officials are expecting the country hold if not improve its fifth place finish in Laos in 2009.

Based on the submission at the delegation registration meeting, Thailand has the largest contingent and Indonesia second with over 3,000 athletes, officials and delegates to the biennial Games.