Busan task force predicts 2 golds or more

The Task Force on the 14th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, has primarily set a goal of the country’s delegation doing much better than merely surpassing the gold medal output four years ago.

"We intend to put up a team that would bring home several bacon, not just one," said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Carlos Tuason. He heads the Asiad Task Force that got the ball rolling yesterday morning.

"We also intend to send a lean team, a fighting one at that, and make sure everybody on the team gets the proper training, equipment and foreign exposure to guarantee a respectable finish," he added.

With Tuason on the task force are former Gintong Alay chief Michael Keon, who would also act as training director for Team Philippines and Ramon Suzara on the PSC side. On the Philippine Olympic Committee side are Tom Carrasco, the triathlon association head who will be chief of mission of Team Philippines and Nestor Ilagan, the POC’s man Friday in charge of both athletes and coaches.

Tuason said setting the objective of merely surpassing the country’s gold medal haul in Bangkok four years ago does not speak well of logic. Two athletes — Romeo Villanueva and Gandy Valle — provided the country’s solitary gold medal from the 9 ball doubles in Billiards in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

Billiards, Tuason said, could be delivering more since Efren "Bata" Reyes has committed himself to the team even sacrificing his stints in two lucrative international tournaments that coincide with the games in September. Reyes has also agreed to prepare himself not for one event but three — 15-ball rotation, 8-ball and one of the carom events.

Taekwondo, wushu, boxing and golf are among those which could provide gold medal hopes but Tuason said the athletes must be better prepared both physically and mentally since the opposition is much stronger and have definitely prepared well and hard.

The Asiad is considered the Olympic of Asia where dozens of world champions from powerhouse like China, Korea, Japan and the former Soviet Republics are entered. There are 40 countries competing in the Asian Games, which flaunt more quality and quantity than the 10-nation Southeast Asian Games.

Tuason dismissed the possibility for Team Philippines to balloon in terms of the number of athletes as he stressed on the quality of the competition. "Our athletes would be up against the world champions and potential world champions. And we ourselves here back home intend to send our very best," he said.

In its initial meeting yesterday, the task force has set the criterion for the selection of athletes at the level of an Asian Games bronze medal or a SEA games gold. Budget for the team, Tuason said, would only be determined when it is already clear how many would comprise the delegation.