High morale

NESTHY Petecio, Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena are expected to deliver in the 30th SEA Games. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

National sports associations (NSA) came up with a good projection of their performance when the country hosts the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games starting 30 November.

Deputy chief of mission Stephen Fernandez said almost all of the participating federations were optimistic of their chances, especially since they enjoy a tremendous homecourt advantage in the prestigious biennial meet that would be held in the country for the first time since 2005.

In fact, all of those who attended the meeting organized by chief of mission William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday were glad to learn that the they are on track to win the overall crown with barely 23 days before the start of this 11-nation conclave.

“Almost all of the participating NSAs were present and their morale was very high,” said Fernandez, a taekwondo champion who competed in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

“They painted a very rosy picture of our SEA Games performance. All of them are working hard and very optimistic that we would emerge with the overall title.”

The country plucked 113 gold, 85 silver and 93 bronze medals the last time it hosted the biennial meet.

Wushu emerged as the top medal producer with 12 gold, four silver and two bronze medals while athletics and aquatics delivered nine mints apiece and boxing and billiards chipping in eight gold medals each.

Thailand was a distant second with 87 golds while Vietnam and Malaysia were in third and fourth places with 71 and 61 mints, respectively.

The Philippines languished from fifth to seventh places while other countries in the region maintained their respective positions in the medal standing.

This time, hopes are high on Filipino athletes.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has been doling out unlimited amount of support, sending athletes to various international tournaments to compete and train with the best players in the world.

The PSC also makes sure that elite athletes like Nesthy Petecio, Hidilyn Diaz, EJ Obiena, Mary Joy Tabal and Carlos Yulo would stay in their respective training camps abroad to prepare for the biennial meet and Olympics next year.

“That’s where our athletes and NSAs draw their confidence,” Fernandez said, adding that they will be deploying 1,115 athletes.

“The athletes and the NSAs know that the PSC is backing them up and the entire Filipino nation is rallying behind them. Their morale is in an all-time high and they are all ready to win the title.”

Ramirez will stay at the command center in Manila together with sports commissioner Charles Maxey while Fernandez and commissioner Arnold Agustin will be in detailed at the main hub in Clark.

On the other hand, sports commissioners Arnold Agustin and Celia Kiram will be at Subic to oversee the athletes competing in water sports, beach volleyball, sepak takraw and pencak silat.