SEA Games gold medalists early Asiad candidates–PSC

BACK to work after the holidays, Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia is set to form the secretariat to kick off the country’s preparations for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

As chef de mission of the Asiad campaign, Garcia will need the secretariat to help identify the prospective athletes and thresh out the details of the country’s participation in the continental competition slated Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

“Let’s organize the secretariat first, set the criteria (for qualification), and name the athletes early so we will have more time to train them,” said Garcia.

“We will start with the medal winners in the SEA Games and other athletes who we feel could deliver.”

Filipino athletes brought home 29 gold, 34 silver and 38 bronze medals from the recent 27th Southeast Asian Games held in Burma (Myanmar) where the Philippines placed a record-low seventh overall.

Excluded from the Incheon Games’ 36-sport roster are billiards, chess, dancesport and dragon boat—disciplines where the Philippines has strong chances of landing a gold medal.

“With the absence of these sports, we have to look for medals in other sports,” said Garcia.

Dennis Orcollo struck gold in the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China, beating compatriot Warren Kiamco in billiards’ 9-ball finals.

Chess grandmasters Eugene Torre, Wesley So, Rogelio Antonio Jr., John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo salvaged a silver in the team event.

Dancers Ronnie Steeve Vergara and Charlea Lagaras won a pair of bronzes in the Latin Paso Doble and Cha-Cha-Cha.