POC chief: Still a strong performance for Team Philippines

PHNOM PENH – Citing the “strong performance” in all fronts, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed confidence Team Philippines can reach the 60-gold mark in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

The 840-strong delegation has piled up 47 gold medals as of yesterday afternoon, and Tolentino expects more in the last two days of action.

“Kayang i-match ‘yung 52 golds in Vietnam (last year) and God-willing, baka umabot pa ng 60,” the POC top brass and Tagaytay City mayor said in a media briefing yesterday.

Tolentino counts on Pinoy stalwarts still engaged in battle in kickboxing, taekwondo, arnis, weightlifting, judo, wrestling, dragonboat, beach volleyball, sepak takraw and fencing to reach this target.

“Pitas-pitasan lang ‘yun, ang dami pa noon. So, definitely we will surpass the 52 golds in Vietnam and we actually already surpassed the silver – 70 sa Vietnam. We have now 72 (silver). So, in total, it is still a strong performance for Team Philippines,” he said.

This, the Filipinos were able to do despite a relatively smaller complement and limitation in events participation in a number of sports.

“Imagine, ilan ang pinadala natin – 840. Compare it to Thailand (which sent) 1,900 and to Vietnam with almost 2,000 athletes. Doble nung sa atin, eh. So, inspite of that, andun tayo (fighting in the Top 5). See how strong the Filipinos are?” he said.