The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) wants the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to focus on Olympic sports to ensure the growth and consistency among athletes.

PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said future editions of the SEA Games should have a consistent roster of sports to ensure that all athletes in the region will be able to develop and hone their craft for bigger international events ahead.

The Philippines wrapped up its participation with 50 gold, 73 silver and 154 bronze medals for a sixth-place finish in the recent biennial meet in Thailand.

“I totally agree. New sports that are only known in Southeast Asia should not be allowed. Let’s follow Olympic rules,” said Gregorio, adding that the SEA Games should not just focus on camaraderie and sportsmanship but should also prepare the athletes for major international events like the Asian Games, Olympics and World Championships.

“I really support that. We talked to (Philippine Olympic Committee) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and he wants that for the Southeast Asian Games as well.”

Gregorio knows what he’s talking about.

After all, he is among the very few sports leaders who held crucial posts in a national sports association and the POC before becoming the chief of the government sports agency in July.

He said long-term success will be ensured instead of host countries adding sports for the sake of jacking up their harvest in the medal tally.

“There are many sports in the SEA Games that are indigenous or traditional to the host country. If we host, we have arnis. In Vietnam, they have vovinam. In Thailand, they have their own sports,” said Gregorio, who served important roles at the basketball, boxing and rowing federations in the past.

“But what’s important to us, as far as the POC and PSC are concerned, are the Olympic sports — where do we bring the Olympic sports so we can win gold in Los Angeles?”

The Philippines collected fewer gold medals than the previous edition of the meet in Cambodia, but it was still able to assert its dominance in sports that the PSC and the POC believe to be crucial to the national team program.

Tracksters John Cabang and Ernest John Obiena won gold medals in athletics after dominating the men’s 110-meter hurdles and pole vault, respectively, while Aleah Finnegan ruled the women’s vault in artistic gymnastics after it was contested by the POC and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

Filipino-Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez emerged as the most bemedalled Filipino athlete with three gold and five silver medals while Olympian Eumir Marcial rose as the only boxer to win the title after beating Maikhel Muskita of Indonesia in the men’s 80-kilogram final.