Patafa predicts 8 SEAG golds

MANILA, Philippines—Athletics chief Philip Ella Juico boldly promised Tuesday eight gold medals for the Philippine track and field team in the 28th Southeast Asian Games.

“We’re very optimistic and right now we’re looking at eight (golds),” said the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) president in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

He said the gold-medal prospects are Archand Christian Bagsit (400 meters), Eric Shaun Cray (400m hurdles), Christopher Ulboc Jr. (3,000m steeplechase), Henry Dagmil (long jump), decathlete Jesson Ramil Cid and the 4x400m relay team of Isidro Del Prado Jr., Edgardo Alejan Jr., Julius Nierras and Bagsit, who accounted for the six golds the country won in the 2013 Burma (Myanmar)  Games.

Also expected to perform well are Olympian Marestella Torres (long jump) and Filipino-American thrower Caleb Stuart (hammer and shot put). June Navarro