Muros-Posadas leads National team to Asia Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Asia’s former long jump queen Elma Muros-Posadas heads a big Philippine delegation which leaves today for Chinese-Taipei with an aim of winning at least 10 gold medals in the 17th Asia Masters Athletics Championships.

Muros-Posadas, a multiple gold medal winner in this competition for veteran athletes, is not the only recognizable face in the 24-athlete team backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by Score (SportsCore Event Management and Consultancy), as former SEA Games medalists Lerma Bulaitan-Gabito, Emerson Obiena and Erlinda Lavandia also take part in the Nov. 2-7 event, along with Antonio Chee, Elenita Punelas, Danny Jarin and John Lozada.

They will comprise the top group of veterans tipped to bring home a good number of gold medals to top their haul of five from the same tournament in 2010 in Malaysia.

“This is the biggest Philippine delegation yet to take part in the Asia Masters,” said Manny Ibay, president of the National Masters and Seniors Athletic Association (NMSAA), whose group also received support from Sen. Chiz Escudero, Rexona, Mizuno and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. 

PSC chairman Richie Garcia wished the team well, saying: “Our veteran athletes continue to make us proud even years after they have made big contributions to Philippine sports at the prime of their careers. The Asia Masters will again prove to be a source of pride for the Philippines despite the presence of very strong teams and bigger delegations from the likes of China and Japan in the tournament.”

Muros-Posadas is entered in her favorite long jump, the 100m and 200m run and the 4x100m relay. Ibay said Muros-Posadas may still be entered in a fifth event, according to Ibay.

Obiena, also a multiple medal winner in the World and Asian athletics front, will take part in the men’s century dash and pole vault; Lavandia in shot put, javelin and discus throw events; Chee in pole vault and javelin throw;  Punelas in long jump and 4x100 relay; Bulaitan-Gabito in long jump and 4x100 relay; Jarin in hammer and discus throws; and Lozada in the 400m and 800m events.

Other members of the team have also taken part in various national and international events and were given certifications by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa). They are now actively coaching or have taken teaching jobs.