15 RP bets to compete in Asian GP

The Philippines is fielding a full force of 15 tracksters when the country hosts the third and final leg of the Asian Grand Prix at the Rizal Memorial track oval July 1.

Southeast Asian Games long distance king Eduardo Buenavista leads local tracksters which include Lerma Bulauitan, Maristela Torres, new long jump sensation Henry Dagmil, John Lozada, Danilo Fresnido and the men’s 4x400 meters team of Ernie Candelario, Jimar Aing, Julius Llaneras and possibly, Fil-Am Kashus Perona.

The country’s hosting of the Grand Prix, made possible with the support of Milo and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), comes in the heels of the successful staging of the 2004 National Open invitational track and field championships more than three months ago.

Based on their first leg stint held in Bangkok, Thailand last week, the Filipinos have not being faring well. Bulauitan placed eighth in the women’s long jump while Torres finished fifth.

Next stop for the two will be Colombo, Sri Lanka on Monday for the Grand Prix’s second leg.

Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Go Teng Kok however, expressed optimism over the country’s campaign.

"With Buenavista and the other potential gold medalists seeing action in the Manila leg of the Grand Prix, I believe the team will be able to give the rest of the field a very, very good fight. Of course, the support of the local crowd will go a long way in our bid to win a gold," said Go.

The Filipinos won a gold medal in each of the two stagings of the Grand Prix held in the country — Buenavista in 2002 and Bulauitan a year ago.

With the exception of Torres and Bulauitan, the rest of the Filipinos set to compete in the final leg will no longer have a shot at the $3,000 prize purse even in the event they win the gold, as only those who participated in either the Bangkok or Sri Lanka leg are entitled to winning the cash prize.

Likewise, Go said Peronas, winner of the 400m event, has yet to confirm his participation.

Perona earlier begged off because of his job in California, but said he’d be available when the meet comes to Manila.