Cagers, other bets arrive in Busan

BUSAN—Members of the RP delegation have started arriving here since Sunday in preparation for the biggest Asiad ever. All 43 members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) plus the newly independent East Timor, a provisional member, will compete in the 17-day Games starting on Sept. 29.

The tall all-pro basketball team checked in at the Athletes Village Wednesday evening. After taking their first meal at the 24-hour dining hall and sleeping on beds that had to be extended to accommodate them, the Filipino cagers woke up early looking fresh and ready for their workout.

"The boys feel good. They’d surely get adjusted to the living quarters early," said head coach Jong Uichico yesterday while eating breakfast at the dining hall with his assistants, Allan Caidic and Eric Altamirano.

According to Uichico, they had scouted the UAE (United Arab Emirates) team which the Philippines meets in its first game at 3 p.m. on Saturday. "But we do not have anything on the North Koreans, who are also bracketed with us."

"He’s really tall" was all Uichico could say when he saw the North Korean tower, 7-foot-9 Ri Myong-hun, yesterday morning at the dining hall.

The three basketball reserves — Boyet Fernandez, Chris Jackson and Mick Pennisi — joined regulars Olsen Racela, Noy Castillo, Jeffrey Cariaso, Rudy Hatfield, Dondon Hontiveros, Andy Seigle, Kenneth Duremdes, Danny Ildefonso, Dennis Espino, Eric Menk and Asi Taulava in practice.

One of these alternates will replace the injured Danny Seigle on the team.

The biggest batch of RP athletes and officials numbering 115 was scheduled to arrive yesterday evening.

The group includes Philippines Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain, PSC commissioner Leon Montemayor and athletes and officials from swimming, cycling, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, judo, sepak takraw, shooting, softball and weightlifting.

Meanwhile, sports fans can now send words of encouragement, support and other messages to Filipino athletes competing in the 14th Asian Games here via email.

"Athletes can be contacted through email at the (Philippine) Olympic Committee office at room 301, building 103," said RP delegation chef de mission Tomas Carrasco Jr.

The RP delegation’s email address is: [email protected].