The sports officials are doing everything to help the Philippines reclaim glory
From 905 to 840.
That’s the final number of athletes the Philippines is sending to battle in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino bared in Saturday's Power & Play with Kom Noli Eala the reasons for trimming down the number of the delegation which included expired passports.
“From the previously announced 905, due to some discrepancies, passport expiring, etcetera, double entry, finally, the total athletes will be 840. That's the final [number]. Not 905,” said Tolentino.
But it’s still much bigger than the contingent POC deployed in the 31st edition of the biennial meet in Hanoi, Vietnam which was 656.
What was story behind the increase?
“Kaya tayo umakyat nang kaunti from the previous because of those team events na sinalihan natin,” he said. “May cricket, babae at lalaki. May football, basketball, lahat. Marami tayong team events na sinalihan."
Looks like the Philippines is hell-bent on improving on a fourth-place overall finish last time.
“Marami tayong sinalihan na hindi natin alam pano lalaruin. Para bang hindi tayo papayag na hindi natin laruin kasi maraming formula na ginawa ang hosts. The only way to increase or sustain everything, salihan natin lahat. Madali naman practice-in pag aralan yun," Tolentino said.