Task force adds tanker Lacuna to SEAG team

MANILA, Philippines - Less than a month before the Pinoy bets plunge into action in the 27th Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission’s joint SEAG task force tinkered with the roster and included Olympian swimmer Jesse King Lacuna.

London campaigner Lacuna was initially not a part of the tiny swimming delegation approved by the task force but POC and PSC officials had a change of heart and granted the Bulacan native a slot at the last minute.

Lacuna, who accounted for a silver and two bronzes in the 2011 SEA Games, joins fellow Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi and US-based Fil-Ams Matthew Navata and Joshua Hall in Myanmar. 

They are the only bets competing in aquatics as no other swimmer has passed the criteria of the task force while diving won’t be sending bets to the Dec. 11-22 Games.

“Lacuna is ahead of Matt (Navata) in Fina points (International Swimming Federation’s points system),” chef de mission Jeff Tamayo said, explaining that “the task force (initially) used the actual time for Matt’s inclusion.”  

Lacuna’s entry upped to 203 the number of Phl athletes bound for Myanmar, to be accompanied by 79 officials, coaches, medical personnel, admin staff, and security.