MANILA, Philippines – Inaasahang magpipilit manalo sa kani-kanilang events ang mga miyembro ng national track and field sa darating na Philippine Open Invitational Athletics Championships na nakatakda sa Marso 19-22 sa San Luis Sports Complex sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Ito, ayon kay Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Juico, ay dahil magsisilbing qualifying tournament ng 28th Southeast Asian Games sa Singapore ang National Open.
“Magkakasubukan dito. The pressure will be there,” wika ni Juico kahapon sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum sa Shakey’s Malate.
Inaasahan ding magiging qualifying meet ang National Open ng mga bansang Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong at Chinese Taipei.
“There is pressure on our locals and there will be pressure on the foreigners,” sabi pa ni Juico sa forum, inihahandog ng Accel, Shakey’s at ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), kasama si Vincent Soriano, ang chief of staff ni Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez.
Kabuuang 23 events sa men’s at women’s divisions ang nakalatag sa naturang four-day event.
Dumalo rin sa forum sina PATAFA vice president Atty. Nicanor Sering, secretary-general Renato Unso, vice president for administration Cham Teng Young at marketing director Edward Kho.
“Rest assured that it would be a success. And not only that, this one will be better,” pagtitiyak ni Soriano sa matagumpay na pamamahala ng Laguna sa National Open.