Cojuangco to ensure decent finish for RP athletes in Laos SEA Games

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr. vowed to do everything he can do to ensure the country will have a decent finish in the Laos leg of the 25th Southeast Asian Games from December 9 to 18.

Speaking in his weekly POC on Air radio program aired over DZSR Sports Radio Thursday, Cojuangco is hoping the national athletes could have a strong showing in Laos despite an expected limited or no support coming from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chaired by Harry Angping.

Angping already painted a gloomy picture in the country’s Laos campaign predicting that the Philippines will only win 15 to 20 gold medals based on studies conducted on past and present performances of the national athletes.

“Why do we predict a gloomy forecast? Hindi ata maganda ang ganitong sistema dahil pati ang mga atleta natin iyon ang papasok sa ulo nila, na wala pala tayong panalo," said Cojuangco.

Instead at making negative predictions, Cojuangco said the POC should take the said situation as a challenge to strive further and assure the athletes of the needed support.

“We will keep on moving the best way we can under these circumstances. We will try our best, we have our obligations, we know what we have to do, we know our rights and we’ll proceed in such a manner, na gagawin namin ang lahat para hindi mapahiya ang mga Pilipino," added Cojuangco.

A meeting has been set for next week among the POC and the 25 competing national sports associations (NSAs) to determine their forecast and their needs for the SEA Games.

Cojuangco stressed that the POC will be in charge of selecting the athletes and if possible will try to send a large contingent including a number of young athletes since the SEA Games is the best exposure for them.

“They (PSC) have been saying only potential gold medalist should go to Laos but we need to develop our grassroots athletes. But how can you do that if we will not send our young athletes to the SEA Games which is the lowest form of competition. The other SEA countries are also doing the same thing," stressed Cojuangco.

At the same time, Cojuangco said that he will seek Congress’ opinion if the PSC’s P30 million allotted budget for the SEA Games can be used for the athletes’ training. “We know Congress has approved a P30 million budget for the SEA Games and that the money is not a discretionary fund that’s why I think we might go to Congress to find their interpretation if the P30 million is for the funding of people going to Laos or for training purposes."

PSC chairman Angping reiterated that he will only support potential gold medalist in the Laos Games. – GMANews.TV