Pinoy tracksters off today for Asian tourney

A crack 16-member Philippine team has been assembled to leave for Sri Lanka today to provide a sneak preview of the country’s medal chances in the Asian Games athletics through the Aug. 9-12 Asian Championships.

Led by Eduardo Buenavista, the team will pit skills with some of the best tracksters of the 40-plus nations participating in this major event of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association (4As) calendar.

"We already have an idea on who will compose the RP Team for the Asian Games in Busan, Korea. But we still have a more than a month before the Asian Games so we made it clear to the athletes that they must continue earning their slots in the elite team we intend to form," Go Teng Kok, head of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, told the PSA Forum before leaving for Sri Lanka yesterday.

Buenavista, a 3,000-meter steeplechase specialist, will compete only in the 5,000 meters because he is still nursing a minor knee injury while 800 meters runner John Lozada and sprinter Ernie Candelario have just recovered from flu.

The other members of the team are decathlete Fidel Gallenero, high jumper Sean Guevarra, long jumper Joebert Delicano, Dandy Gallenero (javelin), marathoners Allan Ballester and Roy Vence, Rodrigo Tanuan, Ronnie Marfil, Jimar Aing, Lerma Bulauitan, Genalyn Amandoron, Marestella Torres and Narcisa Atienza.

The RP tracksters trip is funded by the Philippine Sports Commission which also sent its own team to represent the country in formally accepting the hosting of the 2003 Asian Championships in Manila.

PSC chairman Eric Buhain also directed special project officers Ed Mateo and Ariel Paredes to "put up a good show" during the 20 minutes given by the Sri Lankan organizers to the Philippines during the closing ceremonies.

"Let them know that the Philippines is proud and ready to host next year’s Asian Championships. Let them feel that they are welcome to come to Manila as we try to host the best Asian Championships ever," said Buhain.

Some 20,000 RP flaglets and huge welcome banners will momentarily fill the venue located in Colombo while Buenavista, waving a giant national flag, will lead the rest of the team in doing a lap inside the stadium.

"It will be quite a show but the PATAFA is more concerned in dishing out a better performance in the coming Asian Games," added Go.