Athletes, coaches say RP team good for 64 SEAG golds

The Philippines can win at least 64 gold medals in the 25th SEA Games in Laos. This projection came not from sports executives but from the athletes and coaches from 16 sports disciplines who would do battle in the Dec. 9-18 meet themselves.

Boxers declared the largest gold medal target - a perfect 10-of-10 in their own competitions – followed by track and field bets who pledged seven mints from their end. The star-studded billiards and snooker team led by Efren “Bata" Reyes and Rubilen Amit each promised at least six gold medals for the contingent while diving and taekwondo bets eyed five plums apiece. Tennis and judo aces trained their sights on four golds apiece while athletes from wushu, weightlifting and karatedo each aimed for three; and entries in wrestling, petanque, sepak takraw, muay, pencak silat and archery sought to deliver at least two mints each. The Laos-bound athletes gave their projected haul during the send-off party hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission Wednesday at the Panulukan Grill and Restaurant in Manila. In enjoining Team Philippines to do their best, PSC chairman Harry Angping said: “Naniniwala ako sa galing ng Filipino. So let us show that we Filipinos can win medals, can win honors and bring prestige to Philippine sports." Should the Pinoy sportsmen hit the bull’s eye in Laos, the country will erase the bitter memories of the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand when the contingent limped home with a mere 42 gold, 91 silver and 96 bronze medals for their worst-ever sixth place finish. - GMANews.TV