At least 5 Asiad golds this time, says Garcia

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia Friday predicted at least five gold medals in six sports for the country in the Asian Games set later this year in Incheon, South Korea.

Garcia, who is also the chief of mission of Team Philippines to the Asiad, said the country can count on its usual strongholds like boxing, taekwondo and wushu in addition to archery, cycing and basketball.

“Maybe we can have five golds, if not more. (There will be) more than three golds,” said Garcia, referring to the Philippines’ three-gold output four years ago in Guangzhou.

He said Gilas Pilipinas is a gold prospect, especially after making the World Cup for the first time in many years by finishing second in last year’s Fiba Asia Championship.

But Gilas won’t be able to field Brooklyn Nets center-forward Andray Blatche for the Asiad with his naturalization process still to be completed. The deadline for submission of athletes by name is on April 30.

“Boxing, taekwondo, wushu—we expect more from them,” said Garcia. “We also have high hopes in archery and cycling.”

He said cycling will be bannered by Olympian Daniel Caluag, the only Asian to qualify in BMX in the 2012 London Olympics. Caluag and his brother Christopher finished 1-2 in last year’s Southeast Asian Games.

Garcia added that 27 national sports associations have already completed the accreditation requirements of the athletes they endorsed.