SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Mary Joy Tabal will return to Japan next month to continue her training for the upcoming biennial sporting meet. “(My trip back to Japan) is in the middle of August,” said the Cebuana pride, who recently celebrated her 30th birthday with a fun run and gift giving to the grassroots kids in Cebu.

Tabal is the reigning gold medalist in the women’s 42-kilometer event in the SEA Games. She wants no less than a first-place finish again, this time in front of the Filipino crowd. The 30th edition of the SEA Games will be hosted by the Philippines on Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. The games will be played in Clark, Metro Manila, Subic Bay and other parts of Luzon. (RSC)