Cagebelles’ SEAG stint still up in air

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia is not averse to sending the women’s national basketball team to the Myanmar  (Burma) Southeast Asian Games, but the Philippine Olympic Committee also has a say on the issue.

“The decision has to be made by the POC and the PSC based on the recommendation of the task force,” said Garcia before leaving yesterday for the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China.

“The status of the team with respect to the SEA Games will be discussed in the next meeting with the POC.”

Known as Perlas ng Pilipinas, the women’s squad met the criteria set by the screening committee after pocketing a silver medal in the previous SEA Games two years ago in Indonesia. Team sports, however, only have limited slots in the Philippine delegation bound for the Dec. 11 to 22 biennial meet.

So far, only the men’s basketball team has been assured of a slot in the Philippine delegation while men’s and women’s football, like the women’s basketball team, are still trying to convince the task force that they could win in the games.

“Personally, I think they should have gotten the gold, but that’s the way the ball bounces,” said Garcia of the silver effort by the cagebelles, who narrowly lost the title to Thailand. “I would say that, maybe, they have every right to make representation to prove that they are really the winner.”

The POC and PSC are looking for a lean contingent with priority on individual events.