INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Not one to back off from making predictions, athletics chief Go Teng Kok on Tuesday made a bold promise of at least six gold medals for the track and field bets in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

“A lot of people are underestimating our team,” Go said during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila. “But I predict no less than six golds.”

Go said RP bets rank No. 1 in Southeast Asia in nine events in the latest rankings released by the Asian Athletics Association. “We have another 11 athletes who are ranked No. 2,” he said.

Go based his prediction on the improved performances of long jump specialist Marestella Torres, steeplechase bet Rene Herrera and marathoner Eduardo Buenavista.

Torres leapt to an impressive 6.45 meters in the Vietnam Open recently, while Herrera clocked nine minutes and 2 seconds in his event, 15 seconds better than his closest pursuer.

“They are all sure gold there in Laos,” said Go in the Forum backed by Accel, Outlast Battery and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Pagcor).