It’s judgment day at SEAG

For the Philippines, today is its moment of truth in its quest for the overall crown in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, with close to 100 gold medals at stake in what has been described as the meet’s "Judgment Day."

Although the host country has seized the lead since Day One of the 11-nation SEA Games, the day-long battle on all fronts at key venues in the country will determine whether the Philippines will finally win the crown it missed by a single gold 14 years ago in Manila.

With those 100 golds lined up in 26 different sports, and with only eight more left for tomorrow, it is safe to say that the battle for the overall crown will be decided by the day’s end.

Meanhile, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Lapatapanlop maintained yesterday that allegations of cheating in the Philippines’ hosting of the SEAG were never mentioned.

In a news conference following his arrival in the country, Suwat echoed the statements of the Thai Foreign Ministry last Friday, claiming that Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had been quoted "out of context" by the media.

He stressed Thaksin never mentioned cheating by Filipinos in the ongoing SEAG but was only talking about the true spirit of the SEA Games.

The Thai official arrived from Bangkok yesterday afternoon amid a brewing controversy that stemmed from assertions of cheating and poor officiating reportedly made by Thaksin.

The Philippines, as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday and according to the medal tally at the International Press Center, is leading the race for the crown with 75 golds, 55 silver and 63 bronze medals.

Thailand, the perennial champion, has dislodged 2003 winner Vietnam for second place with its 50 gold, 57 silver and 80 bronze medals. Vietnam is now running third at 49-48-58.

A different medal tally that was posted by pbs.gov.ph, the official website of Philippine broadcasting, show the Filipinos further ahead of the Thais in the race for the title, 80 golds to 50.

Whichever tally is correct and reliable, only one thing is certain: the Philippines is now safely ahead in its bid to win its first-ever overall crown in the SEA Games.

The Philippines, according to sports results gathering expert Joseph Dumuk, is all set to win the overall crown. The margin, he said, is too big for the Thais or the Viets to overtake.

"If we win at least 10 today, then that’s it. At least 10," said Dumuk.

"It would be too difficult to overhaul a gold-medal deficit of 25, 27 or 30 with only two days left," added Dumuk, considering that the Filipinos were still expected to win a new batch of golds last night in boxing and other sports.

A group of Thai reporters shared with The STAR their gold-medal predictions for the last three days of competition. And it’s no more than 24, meaning there could be a close battle if the Philippines is silenced the rest of the way.

Thai reporters expected four golds in Muay Thai, three each in gymnastics and petanque, two each in sepak takraw, boxing, volleyball, golf and weightlifting, and one each in sailing, football, shooting and tennis.

The last day of competition on Monday only offers six gold medals — four in chess and two in indoor volleyball.

A good showing by the Philippines today — "Sunday bloody Sunday" — would leave the closing day irrelevant for the hosts, but crucial for Thailand and Vietnam — in the battle for second place.

‘I love it here’

From the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City, Suwat went straight to the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center where he watched Fil-American Cecil Mamitt beat Thai ace Danai Udumchok in the men’s singles finals, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Then Suwat dropped by at the SEAG main press center at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where he met with journalists from the 11 participating countries.

Suwat, however, refused the offer to sit at the presidential table with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco during the press conference.

Suwat initially fielded a string of questions from his compatriots, saying he didn’t want to make it appear as a formal press conference. Thai reporters asked the opening questions speaking in the Thai dialect.

Then he spoke in English and maintained Thaksin merely had been talking about "the true spirit of the games."

Suwat described the atmosphere in the 23rd SEAG as "very good," adding the ongoing games hosted by the Philippines are all about "unity and friendship."

Suwat spoke of the unity and good relationship between Thailand and the Philippines during the press conference, adding President Arroyo and Thaksin are "good friends."

"We have a good relationship and good cooperation in all things," Suwat said.

The Thai official added he came here on his "own determination" and that he had always loved visiting the Philippines.

"I love (it) here," Suwat said. "I come here many times. When I watched tennis earlier, I got cheers."

Suwat admitted he saw nothing wrong in the officiating of the tennis match between Mamiit and Danai.

"You win the game, I lose the game. But the tennis team is good," he said.

Talk on this later

he issue of alleged cheating by the Philippines in the 23rd SEAG may be raised by Mrs. Arroyo with Thaksin on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo and Thaksin might find time to discuss the issues during the two-day summit in Malaysia starting Dec. 12.

Unlike last Friday when Bunye was in a conciliatory mood, he said the Thai allegations of unfair officiating should be answered fairly and quietly by Philippine sports officials in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

"Definitely, they will have a chance to talk. But in the meantime, I think it’s best that we concentrate on cheering on our athletes. Let us not allow this issue to spoil the finale of the games this weekend," Bunye said.

"Instead, let the spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity prevail even as we continue to cheer the excellence and fighting spirit of the Filipino athletes," he said.

Thailand again criticized the Philippines on Friday over its handling of the SEAG and vowed to do a better job when it hosts the biennial event in 2007.

In another dig at the Philippines, which is currently leading the medal table, the Thai government took aim at the "incorrect" idea that the host country should win the most medals.

In an effort to appease Filipino officials, Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said Thaksin’s remarks did not directly refer to the Philippines.

He said the issue stemmed from a "misunderstanding of the Prime Minister’s comments."

Kantathi stressed the tensions between the two countries should not escalate, and if necessary, Thaksin and Mrs. Arroyo should meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.

"If there is a misunderstanding we can discuss it at the ASEAN summit but not on the formal agenda," Kantathi said.

Malacañang earlier sought to downplay the issue, pointing out that concerned Thai officials had already issued clarifications and apologies over the adverse statements by Thaksin.

Scapegoat

The allegations of unfair officiating at the Games in Manila were raised by Thailand to cover up their poor performance, national training director Michael Keon declared yesterday.

Keon noted the allegations raised by Thaksin of unfair officiating marked the first time in the history of the SEA Games that a head of state complained about the outcome of game results.

"I believe the Thai Prime minister is just trying to cover up the poor performance of their delegations. He must have a reason to rally his people," Keon told the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel news forum in Quezon City.

Keon said Thaksin made the statement in a "very unsportsmanlike" manner.

"This the first time a (government) leader commented that way while a sporting event is ongoing. That is why we’re surprised," said Keon, a former Philippine Olympic Committee president and executive director of the successful "Project: Gintong Alay" sports grassroots development program.

Keon claimed the Thai government was apparently caught flat-footed by the tenacity and superior performance of Filipino athletes in the SEAG.

He said the Thais were just looking for a scapegoat to cover up for their poor standing in the games.

As of yesterday, Malaysia was catching up with the Thais for third place in the medal count.

Keon said the cheating allegations raised by Thailand only bolstered the determination of Filipino athletes to show their worth.

He said the country’s athletes have been sufficiently trained with the support of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Keon stressed Mr. Arroyo was able to raise P150 million to finance the training of the Philippine contingent abroad.

With the financial support, the country’s athletes were sent to train in China, Korea, Japan and in Mongolia for several months.

And instead of engaging in a word war with the Thais, Keon said the Philippine team would bring their fight to various sports arenas and further beat the Thai athletes.

"We will beat the Thais to the end," he declared.

Chaiyapak Siriwat, vice president of the Thailand Olympic Council, led the Thai sports officials in extending their apologies to Cojuangco and other members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council (SEAGF) over the issue.

Siriwat said newspaper reports quoting the Thai PM were "inappropriate" but the Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Thaksin was quoted "out of context" by the media.

Philippine Olympics Committee (POC) chairman Robert Aventajado said Siriwat and the Thai sports delegation are in a position to judge the hosting and fairness of the game results.

He said Siriwat and the Thai delegation have been witnesses to the events and they should be the ones complaining should there be any irregularities.

"The ones who claim there is cheating are those watching television from faraway Bangkok," he said.

"It’s unfortunate this thing (was raised) when the Thai sports officials here have already said there was no cheating," Aventajado said on Vice President Noli De Castro’s weekly radio program "Para Sa’yo Bayan" yesterday. — With Aurea Calica, Rainier Allan Ronda, Perseus Echeminada, Pia Lee-Brago