By Kristel Satumbaga
Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) chief Philip Ella Juico aims for the best finish in the Southeast Asian Games by targeting at least 13 gold medals in the 30th edition that the country is hosting in November.
“We hope to surpass the 13 golds that the team won in the 1983 SEA Games,” Juico said, adding that the inclusion of new events such as the mixed gender relay will bolster the country’s medal bid in the biennial meet.
Juico said the association is doing its best in boosting the athletes’ preparations by eyeing different foreign tournaments and training camps, though nothing was final at the moment.
They are looking at tournaments in the United States, Spain and Italy, to name a few.
“We’re selective of which competition we wanted to send our athletes, but we’re working on it,” said Juico.
Juico also added the fact that the country can send a maximum of three athletes per event instead of two athletes also gives the PH team a better chance of winning more gold medals.
Among those that Juico believes can deliver the gold are pole vaulter EJ Obiena and tracksters Eric Cray and Trenten Beram.
Athletics has been the country’s gold mine in events like the SEA Games because of the gold medals at stake with the PH team winning five gold, three silver and 10 bronze medals in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.
