PNG no-show, off-form bets to get PSC sanction

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia yesterday said they are in the process of downgrading the elite athletes who had refused to participate or performed below par in the recently concluded PSC POC Philippine National Games.

“We will remove funding to anyone who we feel is not performing up to standard being a member of the national pool,” said Garcia in yesterday’s media briefing at the agency’s building inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“This practice is done all over the world, members of the elite team must perform as such and not take it for granted,” he added.

Garcia said they are also looking at the possibility of enlisting some of the young athletes who performed exceptionally in the annual multi-sports meet held as part of the selection process for the national team bound for this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

Among those who made impressions in the PNG were cycling’s Ronald Oranza and Rustom Lim of the LBC-MVP Sports Foundation under-23 team, billiard’s 13-year-old Cheska Centeno of Zamboanga City and archery’s 18-year-old Ian Chipeco.

Oranza and Lim took the individual time trial and road race gold medals in Tarlac City, Centeno stunned former multiple SEAG gold medal winner Rubilen Amit twice before losing to another SEAG vet Iris Ranola in the finals, and Chipeco made a triple-gold haul in the compound events against fancied rivals.

Garcia particularly took notice of Oranza and Lim, who have been dishing out strong performances here and abroad.

“If they won and beat members of the national teams, they are qualified for inclusion. If the national athletes did not participate, I guess we have to remove them,” said Garcia.

Garcia also praised private corporations like LBC and MVP Sports Foundation for lending a big helping hand to Philippine sports by way of sponsoring certain athletes.

Former long distance running king Eduardo Buenavista performed below par and may have relinquished his spot to his 10,000m conqueror Rafael Poliquit, who also took the 3,000m steeplechase gold.

Volleyball’s Bomberinas, a team being eyed to represent the country in the SEAG, settled for a silver after getting overwhelmed by Phl Air Force.

“Adjustments in their allowances will be made, if they ranked lower, if they didn’t perform as they were expected to perform, they will have the risk of losing financial support from the PSC,” said Garcia. 

“Now for those who beat them, and broke national records, there’s a strong chance they will be included in the national team,” he added.