Coseteng bares Universiade delegation’s plight

Former senator Nikki Coseteng called for reform as the country once again had an underwhelming performance in the 28th Summer Universiade in Gwangju, Korea.

“We’re not putting our best team forward,” she said. “We didn’t expect to win medals. We wanted to send athletes there to experience what it’s like to be in an international competition of this magnitude, but we were no match.”

Speaking to select mediamen, the chairperson of the Philippine Swimming League (PSL) exposed the irregularities that have hampered the country’s delegation in the biennial meet.

The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) sent 78 athletes, including 44 swimmers under the PSL, in the competition pitting PH against over a hundred countries, but all failed to net a medal in the event.

“It was a big eye-opener. The kids told me that there are better players than them and those students deserve their spot more. I told them that we’re supposed to bring them, but their universities and colleges won’t allow it,” she said.

Coseteng hit out the UAAP for prohibiting players from its schools from joining FESSAP-sanctioned events.

She pointed out the situation of sisters Christine and Clarice Patrimonio, who were were supposed to join this year’s Universiade but NU, a UAAP member school, did not allow it.

“This prohibition opened the doors to other athletes. We did not bag a medal this year, but if they allowed athletes from their schools to join, we’ll never know how many medals we could have had,” said Coseteng.

“I am willing to talk to everyone who is willing to talk to me, who’s word I can count on, and have no non-sense talk.”

Samuel Morrison won a silver medal in the 2011 version of the event held in Shenzhen, China while Wesley So won the men’s individual gold in the chess event of the 2013 meet in Kazan, Russia. CFC