PSC sets up bubble training

MANILA, Philippines — Soon, some national athletes who remain in the country, including Tokyo-bound boxer Irish Magno and Olympic hopefuls Nesthy Petecio, Pauline Lopez and Jamie Lim, will resume training.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez said they are targeting January next year to have most members of the national team train together in a bubble set up under strict health protocols at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calama, Laguna.

The Calamba bubble will cater to those preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Taekwondo’s Samuel Morrison and 2016 Rio Olympics veteran Kirstie Alora are expected to be part of the bubble.

The national track and field squad, headed by marathon queen Christine Hallasgo, is holding its own bubble at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac also starting next month.

“We’re now just waiting for approval from the IATF so we can now have our athletes start training by January,” said Ramirez.