BMX aces axed from the SEA Games; gold hopes lost

9:50 pm | Friday, November 18th, 2011

PALEMBANG, Indonesia—Already scrounging for golds, Team Philippines’ bid for two more vanished Friday following the disqualification of highly touted BMX riders Alexis Manosa and Daniel Patrick Manabat from the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

The reason? They carry UCI licences both as an American and as a Filipino.

Philcylcing president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, lambasted their disqualification from Friday’s events because it was only handed down during the team managers’ meeting Thursday night.

“They were already on the entry list, added Tolentino. “They didn’t pose any question then, so that means their papers are in order. The reason really is their opponents saw that they are strong and will surely contend for the gold.”

The 34-year-old Manosa, once ranked ninth in the US Elite Pro Tour, said “it sucks that I could not represent the Philippines because I was truly looking forward to competing in the SEA Games. It would have been a great honor to play for my country.”

The 24-year-old Manabat, a two-time silver medalist in the World BMX championships, was equally disappointed.

“The spirit of [the] Games is for the best to compete but they are not allowing the best to participate,” added Manabat, who was also a four-time No. 1 pro on the US circuit.

Apart from their UCI licenses, cycling team manager Ed Mangaser said the dual citizenships of Manosa and Manabat were also questioned by Thailand and Malaysia.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco also expressed dismay over the disqualification as the BMX riders reportedly really did well during the trial runs on Thursday.

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Tags: 26th Southeast Asian Games , Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino , Alexis Manosa , BMX , Daniel Patrick Manabat , Sports

Anonymous

Let that be a lesson to PH Sports officials and these Fil-Am athletes who come here to represent our country. I support PH sports but deplore the practice of recruiting foreigners for the PH team. First, the PH govt should put the money in grass roots devt of local athletes, coaches and infrastructure instead of foreign athletes. Secondly, it truly represents our govt’s commitment to developing our youth and economy. Many other countries are already complaining about us, like the Kuwaiti football players about our Azcals. I can understand doing it for soccer but after awhile, we should ban all foreign athletes and put the money locally. We are the sick-men of Asia when it comes to int’l sports and that really upsets me.

abraham tolentino

let it be known to you that PH did not spend a single cent for these, they were supported by their own funds and assisted by private funds. They are athletes of high caliber and the opponents are just too afraid to face them square. Find out for yourself if PH allocates any single cent to develop bmx.

Anonymous

I don’t believe that but whether these Fil-Ams paid their own way or not is really irrelevant as far as PH sports devt goes unless they have actually contributed to local sports devt. Did they stay and conduct clinics or coach local athletes? Did they help promote local sports by getting corporate sponsors or selling tickets to local events? The govt should make these athletes work for the betterment of our own athletes. The point is, if we rely on imports, we will never develop our own.

BMX aces axed from the SEA Games; gold hopes lost

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