The Philippine Track and Field Association (Patafa) yesterday lashed out at marathoner Mary Joy Tabal’s decision to seek help from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) so she can regain her spot in the national team.
Patafa chief Philip Juico expressed shock upon learning that Tabal went to the office of PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez on Wednesday apparently to back her up in her bid to get back to the Patafa fold.
Tabal, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, is no longer a member of the Patafa and must go through the process of applying for her to be welcomed back.
A disgusted Juico told the Bulletin yesterday that Tabal and the Patafa do not share the same vision.
“She is going the opposite direction,” said Juico, noting that Tabal recently wrote a letter to the Patafa asking that she be allowed to compete in a race in Canada. Even the race organizers in Canada have written the Patafa about Tabal’s participation.
“I told them go ahead,” said Juico, stressing that the Patafa doesn’t have anything to do with Tabal since she is not a member of the national team.
Juico insists that Tabal, who hails from Cebu City, cannot be accepted unless she agrees to the terns of the Patafa.
Juico believes that Tabal’s training program goes against theirs.
“If she competes in Canada, that would be her third race in seven months and we don’t believe in that,” said Juico, noting that Tabal stands to suffer another meltdown like what happened in Rio when she almost failed to finish the race.
Juico points to the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia this August as Patafa’s top priority and Tabal’s decision to take part in Canada will jeopardize her chances of winning in Kuala Lumpur.
“In a year, you can only do two races and three at the max and by the SEA Games will be her fourth,” said Juico.
After Rio, Tabal saw action in the year-ending Milo event last December, according to Juico.
Juico is eyeing as much as 11 gold medals in the SEAG and Tabal is a strong gold medal hopeful if she can only rest and relax.
Still, Juico is trying his best to get in touch with Tabal’s handlers in an effort to clear the air.