Gilas, pugs, pole vaulter on track of Rio berths

Philippines’ Eumir Felix Marcial, right, celebrates winning the fight against Singapore’s Tay Jia Wei. Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee / Action Images via Reuters

THE PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee is counting on Gilas Pilipinas, three more boxers and a young pole vaulter to snag more tickets to the Rio Olympics.

POC vice president and Philippine delegation chief of mission Joey Romasanta said among those competing in the Olympic qualifiers, the pro-laden basketball team, boxers Mario Fernandez, Ian Clark Bautista and Eumir Felix Marcial, and vaulter Ernest John Obiena have the strongest chances.

“We are very upbeat, right now we have already 11 qualifiers, the same number we had in the London Olympics, and there’s a big chance we can even exceed that of Beijing which is 15,” said Romasanta.

He added that the athletes mentioned are “very close to making it,” although he’s still hoping for the best for the handful of Filipinos taking their chances in archery, golf, weightlifting and track and field.

He said Gilas has been doing very well with its preparation for the last Fiba (international basketball federation) qualifying, which the country will host on July 5-10.

The three boxers, champions in last year’s Southeast Asian Games, are competing in the final Aiba (international boxing federation) qualifier in Kazakhstan later this month.

Obiena, a second generation vaulter, is clearing 5.50 meters thus far, a tad short of the 5.70 Olympic cut.

Also trying to make it to Rio are four archers led by Youth Olympic gold medalist Gab Moreno who are now in in Ankara, Turkey, Dottie Ardina who is in reserve list in golf, Nestor Colonia in weightlifting, and Mary Joy Tabal in track and field.

Tabal, who already made the marathon qualifying time in Canada recently, is meeting Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico to help formalize her entry to the Games.

Already in the Olympic roster are Eric Shawn Cray and Marestella Torres (track and field), Kirstie Elain Alora (taekwondo), Ian Lariba (table tennis), Charly Suarez and Rogen Ladon (boxing), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), two more in swimming via universality rule, Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que (golf).