Best of the bunch out to end Asiad drought

Eduardo Buenavista and Lerma Bulauitan will lead 11 other Filipino tracksters in a very tough mission in Busan, Korea — to end a long medal drought for the Philippines in athletics in the Asian Games set Sept. 29-Oct. 14.

Buenavista is entered in his favorite event -- the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000 run -- while Bulauitan tries to duplicate, if not surpass, her recent silver medal effort in the Asian Championships in Sri Lanka.

Joining the two in the 13-member lineup are John Lozada (800m), Asian Championships bronze winner Marestella Torres (long jump), Ernie Candelario (400m), Allan Ballester, Roy Vence and Cristabel Martes (marathon), Joebert Delicano (long jump), Sean Guevarra (high jump) and 4x400 runners Jimar Aing, Rodrigo Tanuan and Ronnie Marfil.

"This is our Asian Games list composed of the best tracksters in the land today. The Asian Games is one tough campaign but we believe our athletes will do their very best and fight for the honor of the country," said Go Teng Kok of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

The national tracksters, better known as "GTK’s Army," will be included in the Philippine Olympic Committee list of entries by names today.

Also in the PATAFA lineup are national coaches Mario Castro, Isidro del Prado, Dario de Rosas, Alex Ligtas and Romeo Gido with Beatriz Sallador as team manager.

"I cannot make a prediction now but, knowing my athletes, they will be fighting for every medal in the Asian Games. Judging from our experience in the Asian Championships, winning a gold would be a very tall order.

"But these are our best tracksters and it’s up to them to prove their real worth in Korea," added Go.

The last time the Philippines brought home a medal in the Asian Games was in 1994 in Hiroshima when the now retired Elma Muros-Posadas won a bronze in the long jump.

In 1994, only four were picked to compete in athletics while Elma was the lone bet in 1998 but now, based on the standards set by the POC, 13 easily qualified for the RP Team.