Asiad goal: Do better than 2014

MANILA, Philippines — Chef-de-mission Richard Gomez is keeping his cards close to his chest just days before the Philippine contingent takes part in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.

The Philippines is bent on doing better than the last Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, where it fielded 159 athletes and brought home a single gold medal – in men’s BMX.

On top of three silver and 11 bronze medals, the 2014 performance was quite regrettable.

Gomez said he wants to improve on that finish but couldn’t say how many medals are to be won by the close to 260 Filipino athletes.

“As an athlete, it’s difficult for me to come up with a forecast,” said Gomez, an actor and politician who has also carried the flag as an athlete.

Gomez is a natural athlete, having tried volleyball, basketball, golf, rowing, karting, trap shooting and fencing. In the 2005 Manila SEA Games, he was a member of the men’s team that won the gold in epee.

“All I can say is that I’m hoping that our athletes perform well. I don’t want to say how many medals we can win,” he said.

“Either ang sasabihin ay ‘Ang hina mo naman or ang yabang mo naman,’ (It’s either people will say that I’m a pessimist or I’m cocky),” Gomez said.

The bottom line, he said, is that the Philippines must do better than the last time.

“Whatever the result is let’s take it,” he said.

As chef-de-mission, the 52-year-old Gomez was tasked to oversee the preparation of the Philippine contingent, and so far, he likes what he’s seeing.

“Our wish is always to perform better than the last time,” he said.

“Coming from one gold, anything better than one gold is better than the last. Ang masakit kung wala (It will hurt if we don’t win any),” Gomez added.