Team Philippines can win 100 golds, says POC president
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, said Team Philippines can make a huge comeback in bagging gold medals this time.
Compared to the 24 golds Team Philippines won in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, the country’s fewest since 1999, Tolentino is sure that Pinoy athletes will make a difference on home turf.
Referring to the number of sports that will be contested in 2019 SEA Games, Tolentino said: “Using logic and mathematical computation, 56 (sports) times two, is 112.”
“Mayroong mga sports na baka hindi maka-deliver. Let’s face the reality,” Tolentino said.
But Tolentino also knows several teams will deliver more than two golds.
“Ang arnis, hanggang dalawa lang ba ang made-deliver noon?” he pointed out. “Gymnastics ba, dalawa lang? Boxing?”
If mandatory sports in aquatics and athletics deliver more than two gold medals, then it’s “well and good,” said Tolentino. But it’s the new sports – such as arnis and dance sport – that will push the Philippines’ medal haul over the top.
“Kung sinabi ng athletics na they can deliver, well and good,” he said. “Pero sinabi ko kanina, arnis ba, dalawa lang ang ide-deliver? Add that all over, then you can compute, it’s more than a hundred.”
“With that, we can achieve easily the overall championship,” Tolentino said.
“And the 56 sports, hindi naman lahat nagpadala ang lahat ng bansa. Lahat tayo, kumpleto. That’s one of the advantage ng homecourt natin.”
The last time Team Philippines bagged more than 100 gold medals was in 2005. It was the time the country hosted the event and won 112, as well as won the overall championship.
Photo: handout
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