PSC not shooting for No. 1 spot

MANILA, Philippines—Sports officials normally aim high as far as their forecast in the Southeast Asian Games is concerned.

However, they’re keeping their feet on the ground this time.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia yesterday hinted that the target would be no more than third overall in next year’s SEA Games in Naypidaw, Myanmar.

He said the plan is to outwork Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore while carefully keeping host Myanmar at bay. “We’re not really aiming for No. 1. It’s going to be difficult,” said Garcia, who is scheduled to leave tomorrow for the London Olympics.

Vietnam was third overall and Malaysia ended up fourth in last year’s SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia. Singapore landed fifth, six gold medals ahead of the Philippines in the final medal standings.

It was the second time Team Philippines finished sixth in the last three editions of the 11-nation meet.

“We should focus on beating Singapore and Malaysia first, then Vietnam as the performance of our medalists improve,” said Garcia. “Let’s do it one day at a time.”

PSC and Philippine Olympic Committee officials used to project high expectations in the SEA Games in previous outings.

The PSC chief said the national team will keep a close eye on Myanmar, which finished seventh in Indonesia last year. The host country normally earns a spike in gold haul in the biennial sportsfest.

Garcia didn’t mention SEA Games defending overall champion Indonesia and 2009 titlist Thailand as part of the battle plan and considers beating them improbable at the moment.