PH confident of reclaiming SEA Games overall title

No figure was given as to the country’s gold medal projection in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, but Philippine Olympic Committee chair Abraham Tolentino said the level of confidence is high the Philippines will reclaim the overall title in its fourth hosting of the biennial event.

Named as the 2019 SEA Games Organizing Committee sports director, Tolentino met with officials of 55 sports Tuesday, tackling the medal projections of every sport, the events they intend to host and the venue where each discipline will be staged for the meet slated Nov. 30 to Dec. 9 with Clark as hub and Subic and Metro Manila as satellite venues.

Tolentino, the PhilCycling president and Cavite representative, inquired about the performances of the athletes the past three editions of the meet since 2013 in Myanmar and the output of the NSAs when the Philippines last hosted and ruled the Games in 2005.

“We discussed everything. The number of athletes and possible gold medals for each sport apart from the requirements and venues where the sport will be played,” said Tolentino. “I want to be hands-on as we prepare for the biggest sports event next year.”

“Everybody cooperated. Starting next month, we will do an ocular of the venues to determine the repairs needed and address the requirements set by the Asian and international federations for each sport,” said Tolentino.