By NICK GIONGCO
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas appeared to back yesterday the women’s volleyball team that is seeking inclusion to the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia this August.
“The team has been steadily improving and while it is not possible that it will win a medal (in the Asian Games) it can do so in the Southeast Asian Games,” said Vargas, who takes a different approach in dissecting the issues involving the selection of athletes to the Aug. 19-Sept. 2 quadrennial event that will take place in Jakarta and Palembang.
Vargas admits that since the country is hosting the SEAG next year, the Asian Games will be the perfect setting for a team like women’s volleyball to upgrade its level of play.
“Some of our players have been invited to play as imports and through the years the team have gone overseas for training camps, playing alongside imports and we all love the sport,” said Vargas, citing the advances the sport has made.
Vargas insists that “we can afford to be stricter but we are preparing for the SEA Games.”
Two weeks ago, volleyball officials released the lineup for the Asian Games and bared plans for the squad to undergo rigid training in Japan.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which finances the participation of the Philippine delegation, is not on the same radar with the POC regarding the selection of athletes, saying only those with genuine medal chances should be allowed to compete.
The PSC has earmarked P72 million for the country’s actual participation in Indonesia.
