Team Phl SEA Games training shifts to high gear

MANILA, Philippines - The training of the Filipino athletes who will vie in the 28th SEA Games is about to shift to high gear four months before the biennial event is staged in Singapore.

“The special training begins this month,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco yesterday.

The SEA Games is scheduled June 5 to 16 and the Philippines will compete in 33 of the 36 sports lined up.

The POC is looking at a full contingent for this year’s SEA Games and already has the assurance of support from the Philippine Sports Commission.

Cojuangco wants to make sure that the Philippines will improve on its seventh-place finish in 2013 in Myanmar.

The PSC headed by Richie Garcia is willing to spend for all qualified athletes. Chef-de-mission Julian Camacho is looking at around 400 athletes to compose the delegation.

While the PSC has allocated P30 million for the actual participation in Singapore, it will have to shell out a little more for the other needs.

Garcia said the NSAs (national sports associations) can hire foreign coaches as they head to the SEA Games.

“The PSC already said they can tap foreign coaches even for a couple of months starting now,” added Cojuangco.

In the months leading to the SEA Games, the Filipino athletes will be travelling overseas either for training or actual competitions.

“It’s the start of the special training,” said Cojuangco.

For the meantime, the close to 300 athletes who have most likely secured slots to the SEA Games are based in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the Philsports Complex in Pasig and Teacher’s Camp in Baguio.

Cojuangco had planned to have all the aspirants quartered at Philports so they can together undergo strength and conditioning.

Being under one roof will also make it easier for the POC and the PSC to monitor the nutrition of the athletes.

“But we couldn’t take all of this 300 athletes in one place and that is the complication we are facing now,” said Cojuangco.

The POC chief said the proximity of the training venues of some athletes from Philsports is also making things a bit complicated.

“That’s why there is a big advantage of having a national training center where they are all in one place. It’s much easier,” said Cojuangco.