Teregold: Patafa confident on Hanoi SEAG bid, but Obiena's not on natl pool

THE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) will field at least 50 athletes to the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian Games in May but whether Asian men’s pole vault record holder will be in the association’s lineup or not remains a question mark.

Patafa President Philip Ella Juico told the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday that the association is allowed to field as many as 63 athletes to the May 12 to 23 SEA Games in Hanoi but said that they are settling on 50 athletes.

Juico said that they are looking at entries in 38 or 39 of the 44 events in the track and field competitions in Hanoi.

He added that US-based athletes like Kayla Richardson, Kristina Knott, William Morrison, Natalie Uy and Eric Cray are in the thick of training for the SEA Games where they are the reigning champions.

“Most of those who won the gold or silver are still around,” he said. “Most of them are in shape and have continued training.

Juico, a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), said the privilege to field more athletes hinged on the Patafa’s 11-8-8 (gold-silver-bronze) haul in the 30th SEA Games the country hosted in 2019.

“We can maintain that [haul]. We can say that this is very ideal,” Juico told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The Tokyo Olympian Obiena, also the reigning SEA Games gold medalist, is not on Patafa’s national pool, according Juico. The world No. 5 men’s pole vaulter has unresolved issues with the association revolving around liquidation issues.

“EJ Obiena is not on the national training pool list. We have to discuss that among ourselves in the Patafa board but he’s not in the list right now,” Juico said.

“We have to look at his case if he wants to participate [in Hanoi],” Juico added. “He has said he will ask for help from others. Let’s see what works.”

Juico also said that while Filipino athletes faced various difficulties caused by the two-year Covid-19 pandemic, the coaching staff made sure the athletes are in shape heading to the Hanoi Games.

“We make do with what we have wherever we are,” said Juico, who was joined in the forum by Milo Philippines assistant vice president Lester Castillo, Patafa training director Renato Unso and Coach Jeoffrey Chua. “We cannot keep on complaining. We need to adjust. We are not offering excuses for any possible lapses in the competition.” added Juico.

Castillo, meanwhile, reiterated Milo’s support to Patafa, including performance trials scheduled to begin on Thursday in Baguio City then in Imus, Cavite, and at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City. The National Open is set in April.