Acid test begins for GTK's army in SEAG's centerpiece event

The day of reckoning begins for the vaunted RP track and field team and its controversial head, Go Teng Kok, as the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) unravel its centerpiece event Sunday at the main stadium of the National Sports Complex in Vientiane, Laos. Days before action in the sport begins, Go boasted his tracksters are good for a total of nine gold medals.

His trusted deputy, coach Ojon Artiaga, however, said that in reality, the team will be very fortunate to win more than five gold medals. Artiaga pointed out to blue chip athletes like Arnel Ferrera (hammer throw), Maristella Torres (long jump), Henry Dagmil (long jump), Rene Herrera (steeple chase) and Eduardo Buenavista (marathon) as among those who have a big chance of winning the gold. But Artiaga isn’t discounting a nine gold romp for the Filipinos. "But it’s tough, very tough," Artiaga said. "Realistically speaking, we’re expecting to win at least five gold medals. Maybe, Mr. Go’s prediction includes the previous records of those who won silver medals in the 2007 SEA Games. We just have to know whether the rest of Southeast Asia has also improved. "I’m betting the money on my pocket for our five athletes. The gold medal is already in the bag for them to claim." In the 2007 SEA Games, the RP tracksters won a total of five gold medals. Led by Ferrera, five Filipino athletes will start competing in the centerpiece sport where 45 gold medals are at stake. Also seeing action on opening day are Joebert Delicano (long jump), Rosie Villarito (javelin throw), Eliezer Sunang (shotput) and Julius Sermona (marathon). – GMANews.TV