POC wants bets for SEAG under one roof

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission wants the SEA Games-bound athletes, especially the potential gold medalists, to breath, eat and sleep together – under one roof.

Chairman Richie Garcia said the government agency plans to billet the athletes at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City all the way to Myanmar event on Dec. 11-22.

The PSC chairman said it was actually the idea of Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco to keep the athletes together heading to the Games.

But Garcia said it may be limited to around 40 or 50 athletes since the others are training in the provinces or overseas.

“Mr. Cojuangco wants to monitor the intake of the athletes,” said Garcia.

“It’s his plan to house athletes until the SEA Games but this is only for those who can make it.

There are some that are studying and some are in Baguio and outside the country,” he added.

The POC already has the names of 216 athletes who can make it to the Myanmar SEA Games although only 186 of them are definitely going.

The rest, according to Garcia, are still trying to qualify, like the Discovery Perlas Pilipinas women’s basketball team, until the next couple of weeks.

Garcia said if billeted under one roof, it will be easier to monitor the athletes as they gear up for the Games.

“These athletes will be given all the necessary training especially the needed nutrition in preparation for the SEA Games,” he added. 

Jeff Tamayo, the chef-de-mission of the Philippine delegation, said the Filipino athletes are capable of winning 30 to 40 gold medals in Myanmar.

If achieved, the Philippines may have a chance of maintaining its sixth-place (36-56-77) position two years ago in Indonesia.