NATIONAL team chief of mission Dr. Raul Canlas has confirmed that the Philippines will field a mammoth contingent of 1,600 athletes who will vie for flag and country in the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December.
“This will be our delegation to the SEA Games ever – 1,600 athletes in about 50 sports,” said Canlas, the United Philippine Surfing Association president, the other day during the media launch of the Siargao International Cup.
The size of the PH team is virtually double the size of the 840 Pinoy standard-bearers who saw action in 38 sports in the previous edition of the regional sportsfest in Cambodia two years ago and surpassed 1,115 bets in 56 sports when the country hosted the 30th SEA Games in 2019.
“The delegation size swelled because there will be a lot of team events in the SEA Games,” explained Canlas, who will leave next week with Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for the Thai capital to take part in the CDM and SEA Games Federation Council meetings from Aug. 19 to 21.
The noted sports medicine expert and orthopedic surgeon said because the SEA competition venues were to be held in Bangkok plus the Thai provinces of Chonburi and Songkhla, “we will have three deputies in each of these sites,” among them wrestling head Alvin Aguilar and soft tennis chief Lt. Col. Bobby Moran.
“We intend to submit our entries by name (of the national team) by next week as well.”
Canlas said among the issues that he hoped to clarify during the dialogue with the Thai organizers was the eligibility rules of some sports, particularly men’s basketball, where the Filipinos are the defending champions.
“Plantsado na ‘yung sports ang clarify na lang ‘yung qualification or eligibility rules like basketball. Previously, sabi ng Thai organizers, FIBA qualification, meaning having a Philippine passport at 16 years old. Dati Philippine passport lang okay na,” he explained.
“Ubos ‘yung Fil-foreigners natin. But we were told later that we would go back to the old qualification,” Canlas said, “so we have to hear it from the Thai organizers formally.
He said there were also some issues involving volleyball, “but I can’t divulge them as of yet.”
The Philippines will seek to surpass fifth overall in the medal standings in the Cambodia SEA Games with a haul of 58 gold, 85 silver and 117 bronze medals when Thailand holds the regional meet for the fourth time.
