Phl clouters SEAG bound; futsal stint still uncertain

MANILA, Philippines - Thanks to the private sector, the Philippine baseball team has averted an early strikeout in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

The Philippine secretariat to the Games scheduled Nov. 11-22 yesterday said businessman Marty Eizmendi has issued the guarantee of payment for the entire team.

The baseball team, which won …the SEA Games gold in 2005 in Manila and the silver in 2007 in Thailand, was included to the Phl lineup after agreeing to pay for its own.

With 22 players and a handful officials, the participation of the Phl baseball team may cost more than P2 million at an estimated cost of P80,000 to P100,000 per person.

“Baseball is okay now,” said Phl deputy chef-de-mission Romeo Magat.

However, the fate of the men’s and women’s futsal teams remained in the balance as they were given until Monday to meet all the monetary and documentary requirements.

Magat said while futsal officials have indicated that they have raised enough money to pay for the players, 14 in each division, the problem may yet lie on their documentation.

“The women’s team has clear documentation while the men’s side still has two players with invalid passports. We were told their passports are expired,” said secretariat member Clarito Samson.

“So, they have until Monday to come up with the passports. But that’s if they no longer have problems with the funding. Otherwise, the men’s team can’t go, and the women’s team gets to compete,” Magat added.

Eizmendi is a long-time supporter of Philippine baseball.

A couple of days ago, Smart and PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan pledged P10 million for the participation of athletes from basketball, boxing, football, badminton, tennis, cycling and taekwondo.

“It’s time for the others from the private sector to step in and support our athletes,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia.

The PSC has only allocated P30 million for the SEA Games, which is just enough to fund 424 athletes and 140 officials.

But there are 110 more Filipino athletes and 21 officials (technical, medical and administrative) knocking on the doors to Indonesia, and they include those from baseball, futsal, bridge (13), sports climbing (11), judo (3), fencing (3), badminton (3), athletics (2), gymnastics (2), golf (2) and cycling (1).