Tabuena ‘safe’ to make Olympics, says POC’s Romasanta

Miguel Tabuena. Inquirer Golf

With barely a month left before the cutoff for the Olympics, it’s safe to say that Miguel Tabuena has already made it to Rio De Janeiro.

Tabuena’s stock was further enhanced when the country’s top golfer qualified for  the US Open 2016 set to begin in Oakmont, Pennsylvania Monday.

“I think Tabuena is safe,” said Philippine Olympic Committee 1st vice president Joey Romasanta. “But we still have to wait for the confirmation to make sure that he’s qualified.”

The official affirmation will come from the International Golf Federation on July 11 when the international body announces the qualifiers to the Summer Games on Aug. 5-21.

Only the top 60 male and female players in the world rankings during the scheduled deadline will punch those tickets to Rio.

“As for Angelo Que, he has to maintain his rankings going into the last few weeks,” said Romasanta, the country’s chef de mission to the Olympics.

Once Que, ranked 52nd in the IGF Olympic rankings, earns an Olympic berth along with Tabuena, these golfers are expected to join taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora and Ian Lariba of table tennis in a grand send-off being organized by the POC and tentatively set on July 16-19.

Romasanta said at least six Filipino Olympic qualifiers would be feted in the send-off since some of the Rio-bound athletes would go straight to the Brazilian tourist destination.

Hurdler Eric Cray will come from United States as well as boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez, who are set to train in Cuba or in the US.

Aside from the athletes’ send-off, a courtesy call from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is also in the works./rga