Didal, skateboard pals aiming for 8 golds

MANILA, Philippines — Though most NSAs (national sports associations) are confident of delivering the goods for Team Philippines in the SEA Games, the Skateboarding and Roller Sport Association of the Philippines is eyeing to become the most be-medalled federation when the 30th staging of the biennial meet.

“Yes, we’re looking at sweeping all of our eight events,” said SRSAPI president Monty Mendigoria, basing his bold projection on the events he himself had a hand in putting up and where the hosts have great chances of winning.

“I’m confident of my projection because when we decided on what events to play, I was told (by Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino) to put in those where we can surely win the gold.

“And I can say that we are unbeatable in all of the events that we have included,” he added, referring to the men’s and women’s categories of street, game of skate and downhill events set Dec. 3-8 in Tagaytay.

Margielyn Didal, who pulled off a surprise victory in women’s street event to emerge as an Asian Games sensation in Indonesia last year, will banner the country’s gold medal campaign in the event making its SEAG debut. Others in the team are Christiana Means, Jericho Francisco and a number of Fil-foreign aces.

This came about as Mendigoria said that some members of the national team have already been practicing at the Tagaytay street and park courses since last week, led by Jeffrey Gonzales.

Didal and Francisco, meanwhile, will arrive from Brazil on Wednesday, and will step up their training next weekend along with Means, who will hit town next week from Oregon.

The four-man downhill skateboarding team, composed of Jaime Delange and Abigail Veloria, has also been honing up at the SEA Games downhill course in Maragondon, Cavite under world champion Harry Clark of Australia.

Mendigoria also cited the Philippine Sports Commission’s all-out support to help ensure that the Pinoy bets will be coming into the event, which will also be featured in the Olympics for the first time in Tokyo next year, fully armed and confident.

Rivals from Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam will be arriving on Nov. 28 and 29 in time for the official practice at the Tagaytay skatepark and street courses, which is 99.5 percent complete.