Surpassing the Philippines’ performance in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games will be the mission of the national team in 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Edward Kho said this following talks with the coaches, who are now headed by Jojo Poadas.
“That’s the bare minimum na puwedeng makuha ng Philippines in terms of medals. And we can do this with the athletes that we have,” said Kho.
The Philippines collected five golds, seven silvers, and 14 bronze medals in the last SEA Games.
Veteran coach Posadas is taking over from Dario de Rosas, who remains with the coaching staff with Sean Guevarra.
Posadas talked in detail with Kho of his action plans, along with former Gintong Alay standout Isidro del Prado, a two-time 400-meters’ Olympian, who recently returned to the Philippines after spending years in Brunei. He replaces Julius Nierras.
Making up the rest of the 11-man coaching staff are Geoffrey Chua, John Lozada and Ed Buenavista in sprint, middle- and long-distance running, Emerson Obiena in pole vault, Joebert Delicano in jumping and Danilo Fresnido and Arnel Ferrera in throw events.
For now, Filipino tracksters are preparing for the National Open in Isabela this March, before competing in the SEA Games in May, and the Asian Indoor Championships, Asian Championships, World Championships and the Asian Games later this year.
World’s No. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and sprinter Eric Cray will spearhead a 17-member Philippine national squad to its first international outing this year.
They are preparing for the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships slated from Feb. 10 to 12 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.