INQUIRER Sports

CLOSE TO 300 ATHLETES have been recommended for the Philippine team to the Laos Southeast Asian Games in December but the list is expected to be cut down by the Philippine Olympic Committee, officials said Wednesday.

The POC executive board is expected to approve the final roster next week in time for the Oct. 10 deadline set by the Laos SEAG organizers for the submission of delegation members by names.

?We still have to determine the final number,? said POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros. ?As much as possible we don?t want to give out the list this early because we wanted the athletes to be always on their toes.?

The selection committee composed of athletics? Go Teng Kok and sepak takraw?s Mario Tanchangco has submitted the list of athletes which passed its criteria during the recent POC general assembly held at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Go said the approved list is capable of winning 50 to 60 gold medals and hopefully secure third place for the country.

?Thailand and Vietnam, because of their influence with Laos organizers, will fight it out for the No. 1 and No. 2 position,? said Go, who visited the top SEA Games countries and scouted the opposition.

Thailand and Vietnam are helping Laos officials stage events like weightlifting, boxing, taekwondo, wrestling and sepak takraw, where both countries are considered strong.

While the POC is expected to prune down the list, not all will get financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission, which claims less than 100 athletes deserve to go.