There are Filipino athletes who can play a combination of two or more sports with consistent efficiency.
And it’s the job of the Philippine Sports Institute to find and nurture these hybrid athletes to serve the national team in a variety of sports in international competitions.
“We used to have those types of athletes who can compete in at least two sports,” said PSI national training director Marc Edward Velasco.
Women’s national handball coach Joanna Franquelli is a prime example having won multiple medals in women’s basketball and fencing in five Southeast Asian Games before embarking on handball.
The PSI, which formally kicks off today at Philsports in Pasig City, could actually develop these multitalented athletes, according to Velasco.
The institute would create its own pool of athletes where the NSAs could source out talents any time. These athletes may be discovered with the help of the local government units.