SEAG Task Force approves 216 athletes

The Joint Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Task Force has recommended a final delegation of 216 athletes from 26 sports for the 27th Southeast Asian Games.

Headed by POC chair Tom Carrasco and chef de mission Jeff Tamayo, the task force will forward the list to POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and PSC chair Richie Garcia, who both have the final say on who should go or who should stay.

Out of 216 athletes, Carrasco said around 19 athletes remain uncertain on donning the national colors in the Dec. 11-22 Burma (Myanmar) games, among them women’s basketball and five to seven athletes from wushu, wrestling and weightlifting.

Carrasco said the decision of Cojuangco and Garcia would finalize the size of the delegation in time for the final submission of names on Oct. 10.

He added 76 coaches and team officials will join the athletes in the games to be held in three cities—Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay.

Popularly known as Perlas Pilipinas, the women’s basketball squad will have to beat its SEA Games counterparts—Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia—in the Fiba Asia Women’s Championship next month in Bangkok to secure a slot in the delegation.

Aspirants from wushu should beat their SEAG opponents in the coming World Wushu Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 28-Nov. 6 or face the prospect of being dropped from the delegation.

Three wrestlers presently training in Iran will also be evaluated when they come home next month while lifters Jeffrey Garcia and Christopher Burreros should surpass the criteria in a qualifying lift on Oct. 8.

So far, only Olympian Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia qualified in weightlifting.

Tamayo, who also sits as POC second vice president, said athletes could still be replaced until the delegation registration meeting on Dec. 10 where he will reconfirm the final lineup.