Thursday, July 26, 2007 High hopes for Perez, divers
HOPES are high for Davao City divers to perform well and win gold medals like they did in 2005 when the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gets underway on December 6 to 16 in Thailand.
This was bared by Philippine Sports Commissioner Ricardo "Richie" Garcia to sports reporters during the press conference held after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the PSC and Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) at The Marco Polo Tuesday night.
"Our athletes are all over the place, training in China, United States and Europe. The divers were part of the team that left for China three weeks ago," said Garcia, who is chairman of the POC-PSC Task Force SEA Games.
The RP divers from Davao won five golds in the 2005 Philippines SEA Games as Sheila Mae Perez led the charge with three golds.
"We hope our divers will deliver again even if some diving events were scrapped by the host," Garcia said.
Thailand organizers earlier scrapped 26 gold medal events where the country won golds in 23rd SEA Games.
But Garcia said the Task Force SEA Games was able to negotiate and brought back a handful of events.
"We're doing well in our preparations for our title defense. We're getting there. If not to defend the title, we will give them a good fight," he added.
Garcia said they couldn't give any prediction or fearless forecast just yet despite the very good showing in 2005 SEA Games and 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
He said they are set to meet with the National Sports Associations (NSAs) for the final roster of athletes to the Games.
