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NAKHON
RATCHASIMA—The best finish the country is hoping is
fourth. The worst it could get for Team
Philippines
in the 24th Southeast Asian Games is sixth.
Literally, a sixth-place finish could be the worst. That
is, if the Filipinos end up losing a close three-way
battle with Singapore and Indonesia.
If that
happens, it would be an ignominious follow-up to a
breakthrough finish to the Games in 2005 when the
Philippines hosted the biennial meet.
That
2005 performance that yielded 113 gold medals beat out
the so called Miracle of 1991, when Manila was also
host, as the Philippines wound up a miraculous
second-place overall to then powerhouse Indonesia by a
mere gold medal. Many said the country could have
matched the Indonesians’ 92-gold output had Akiko
Thomson used her finger tips rather than her palms in
one of her swimming finals in reaching the touch pad of
the Rizal Memorial pool.
Three
days before the Games come to a close in this
progressive and massive city located some 300 kilometers
north of capital Bangkok, no more than two gold medals
separate the
Philippines,
Singapore and Indonesia, with one victory and one loss
proving crucial as the Games wind down.
Even if
the country ideally wins 50, that is not even close to
100 gold medals Ritchie Garcia, deputy chief of mission
of Team Philippines here and a commissioner of the
Philippine Sports Commission, boldly predicted as the
country’s output in these Games. And a 38-gold finish is
as inadequate for the second-place target Bacolod Rep.
Monico Puentevella, the chief of mission, told covering
media here Monday.
Never
since 1977 when the country first joined the SEA Games
that was used to be called the SEA Peninsular Games had
the country finished beyond fifth place.
Thrice
did the country wind up No. 5—in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur
with 30 gold medals, in 1999 in Brunei where 22 sports
were staged with only 19 mints and in 1989, also in
Kuala Lumpur, with 26 gold medals.
For four
editions in 2003, 1997 and 1979, the Philippines was
fourth overall. It got 49 golds in
Vietnam,
43 in Jakarta and 24 again in Jakarta, respectively.
In 1995
in Chiang Mai (Thailand), 1993 in Singapore, 1987 in
Jakarta, 1985 in Bangkok and 1981 when Manila hosted for
the first time, the Philippines was a fighting third. It
clinched 33 in Chiang Mai, 57 in Singapore, 59 in
Jakarta, 43 in Bangkok and 55 in Manila.
Of the
total 475 gold medals staked in 43 sports in this Nakhon
Ratchasima Games, 57 remain to be disputed on Friday
while 17 will be considered as crumbs just before
Saturday’s closing ceremonies.
The
Thais, accused of influencing judges and referees
particularly in the subjective sports, principally the
combat sports, looked unreachable after it has breached
its 130-gold medal target mid-afternoon Thursday.
Vietnam
could not even account for half of the hosts gold
production with 59, and has to contend with a
still-in-the-hunt for second place
Malaysia
with 50 gold medals. |
