Ariza advice to help RP Asian Games campaign

It seems that conditioning specialist Alex Ariza made quite an impression on the Philippine Olympic Committee. POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday said Ariza’s advice to coaches and trainers during a one-day seminar last month could help boost the performance of the RP delegation in the Guangzhou Asian Games. Cojuangco noted that coaches and officials now realize that proper training and nutrition based on physique and body composition is vital in preparing the athletes. “Based on the information Ariza gave us, we obviously lack the systematic and scientific approach to the training of our athletes,” said Cojuangco. “We found out that during competition that we’re more dependent on natural talent and ability, while other countries rely on a more scientific approach.” Ariza, the renowned conditioning coach of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, promised to come back in February to help chart the athletes’ conditioning program for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. “He’s willing to come back in February to help us with our conditioning program,” said Cojuangco. The 282-strong RP delegation will try to surpass the country’s four-gold output in the 2006 Doha Asiad. A total of 188 athletes will vie for medals in 28 sports. “I really believe the athletes are ready, mentally and physically,” said the POC chief. “However, it’s hard to predict the number of medals we could win. You don’t know the competitiveness of the opposition in the Asiad.” Meanwhile, Cojuangco said he would announce the country’s flag-bearer in the Asiad during the sendoff party for the RP contingent today at the Philsports Arena. Vice President Jejomar Binay, the guest of honor, will be joined in the affair by  Philippine Sports Commission chair Ritchie Garcia.