THE cream of country’s athletics crop will have their hands full against foreign entries in the 2008 Milo National Open track and field championships which kicks off tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The three-day event is one of the remaining qualifying tournaments for this August’s Beijing Olympics. Thus, the members of the national team, training and youth pools expect some serious challenges from athletes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Korea, who will try to make the grade for the Olympics.

A check with the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) registry revealed that a crack seven-man Korean squad is already in the country as of yesterday, while bets from Malaysian (seven), Indonesia (seven) and Hong Kong (five) are scheduled to arrive today.

“The entry of these foreign athletes promises a topnotch competition, and we are excited to see our local bets pit their skills against them,” said Patafa president Go Teng Kok.

Besides the foreigners, also set to provide thrilling performance are the veterans from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and TMS Shipping, as well as young talents from La Salle, College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern University, University of the East, University of the Philippines and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Athletes from Tangub City, Dagupan City, La Union, Pampanga, Bulacan and other teams outside of the National Capital Region are also entered.

TMS Shipping president Terry Capistrano, himself a former National Collegiate Athletic Association sprint champion, will join his wards on opening-day along with Sapian, Roxas City Mayor Arturo Orosco and top officials of Islander footwear.

“TMS Army” members include long-distance specialist Mercedita Manipol, hurdlers Grace Melgar and Sarah de la Virgo, sprinter Sharon Gesmundo, the 4x4 team of Jimar Aying, Jun Rey ano, Rodrigo Tanuan and Benigno Marayad, jumpers Esmeraldo Pacheco and Teodoro Nonato and sprinters Arnold Villarue and Albert Salcedo.

TMS Shipping also helped send long jumper Henry Dagmil and hurdler Sheena Atilano to the United States for training.

Pacquiao first, future second

WHILE the camp of Manny Pacquiao continues to talk about other possible major fights in the near future, David Diaz prefers not to look ahead and, instead, focus on the task at hand.

Solar via unanimous decision

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has a new home for the next three seasons.

The board of governors unanimously picked Solar Sports as the league’s new television coveror, commissioner Sonny Barrios announced Tuesday after their meeting at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

AFTER two failed bids, Red Bull try once more to clinch the elusive win No. 8 when it faces Air21 in their scheduled rematch this afternoon at the Araneta Coliseum.

THE cream of country’s athletics crop will have their hands full against foreign entries in the 2008 Milo National Open track and field championships which kicks off tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

NOT even a credible performance by the Philippine wushu team in the 2007 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will stop them from preparing doubly hard for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

NOT even a bum stomach could slow down Neriza Bautista’s superb performance.

The guest player scored a game-high 30 points in spite of a case of diarrhea as Adamson University dominated Ateneo, 25-7, 25-14, 23-25, 25-22, Tuesday in Game One of the best-of-three championship series of the Shakey’s V-League Season Five at The Arena in San Juan.

ASIAN Tour stalwart Artemio Murakami has earned his major debut after finishing as joint medalist in the US Open sectional qualifying in Japan on Monday.

My coorganizer in the Nike Elite Camp recently held in Laguna, Alex Compton, is one example on how to take school seriously.

Compton graduated from Ivy League school Cornell U, where he also played before playing in the Philippines.