AFTER representing the country in the 2018 Asian Games, Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal now sets eyes on another target—defending her title in the 42nd Milo Marathon Finals in December and the 30th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games next year.

The 29-year-old Tabal will try to clinch a rare six-peat in the 2018 edition of the Milo Marathon on Dec. 9 in Laoag City. But before that, she will be flying to Italy to do training at the Tuscany Training Camp.

“I will be back in Italy in mid-October. This is to complete the one-year training that was already paid by Motor Ace Philippines. My training in Italy will be about six weeks, until the last week of November,” said the ace athlete of Motor Ace Racing Team.

Tabal trained in Italy for the Asian Games that was held last month in Indonesia. She finished at 11th place in the women’s 42-kilometer race.

“I was told that the Milo Marathon Finals is one of the qualifying events for the national athletes to the 30th Sea Games. We should be in top shape for this one,” she said.

Tabal was the gold medalist in the 29th Sea Games in Singapore. She wants to defend the gold medal in front of the Filipinos since the Philippines will be the host of the biennial meet next year. (RSC)