Philippines fields its 'sturdiest, most prepared Olympic team in years' 

MANILA, Philippines – The 19-strong Philippine team waging war in the Tokyo Olympics unfurling on Friday is one of the sturdiest and the most prepared teams formed in years.

This was the assessment given by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez of the national squad that he said was never short of funding since they bankrolled their preparations since 2016.

“This is the most prepared athletes, strongest for me since ang atleta noon sariling funding yan,” said Ramirez in yesterday’s online briefing he hosted.

Ramirez said government spent around Php2 billion to fund the almost 100 Olympic aspirants from 18 sports.

“Grabe binuhos ng gobyerno, people’s money, dyan. We spent billions, because that’s the way we should prepare our athletes,” said Ramirez.

The investment eventually resulted to 19 qualifiers — the biggest in years — to the quadrennial event and produced some world champions — gymnast Caloy Yulo and boxer Nesthy Petecio — along the way.

“Tinutulungan namin talaga, so malaki expectations ng taong bayan kasi people’s money ginastos,” he said.

But Ramirez is optimistic the country will get its return of investment and end its long search for an elusive Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

“I will be going there on 22nd (Thursday) and hopefully we’ll win the gold,” said Ramirez, who will be accompanied a by three-man staff that included PSC national training director Marc Velasco.