The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is readying for a massive overhaul of the country’s sports program in light of a Southeast Asian Games showing that is way below expectations.

PSC chairman William Ramirez said that the country’s performance in the biennial meet clearly showed the need for a much-strengthened plan, which includes prioritizing what sports to focus into.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Philippines was locked in a tight battle with Singapore and Indonesia for fourth to sixth places. If the Filipinos end up sixth at the end of the Games that will be the worst finish in the history of the regional meet.

“Yes, there will be major reassessment to be done when the Games finished, and even before that I could now tell that there would be major changes on the Philippine sports program as far as the PSC is concern,” Ramirez said.

In particular, the government sports chief said that they may implement the long-planned “focused-sports program”, where the agency will channel a huge chunk of its resources to certain sports in which the country has a stronger chance of reaping international honors than the others.

“Actually, we have planned to apply it as early as 2006 when we started a new government sports program. But we sort of suspended it after na magreklamo ’yung mga [national sports associations] na hindi kasama du’n sa program,” Ramirez explained.

“But I think, in light of what’s happening there [in the SEA Games], I have to exercise political will to finally implement it,” he added. “I will push for it in the board.”

Ramirez, who left for Thailand to join the athletes at the windup of the Games, assessed that it’s not the athletes’ talent that is below par to other countries’ but the preparation and equipment.

“Kitang-kita naman na hindi natin matatawaran ’yung talento ng ating mga atleta, isama mo pa riyan ’yung kanila dedikasyon. They are just losing because their opponents have more extensive preparation and better equipment,” Ramirez noted.

“So by focusing on certain sports, we could address that. And with our budget increasing next year, we could also allot some more to our grassroots development,” he added.

Ramirez expressed confidence that the country would still end up with a respectable finish, saying he still believes the team could make it as high as third in the overall standings.

BELOW THE BELT

NAKHON RATCHASIMA—Cyclist Baby Marites Bitbit goes home with a gold medal around her neck, and so will ageless judoka John Baylon, taekwondo jin Tshomlee Go and the seemingly unbeatable Blu Boys and Blu Girls as the Philippines modestly got back in the thick of things in the Southeast Asian Games Thursday.

It’s return of the king as RP 5 cops gold in men’s basketball

NAKHON RATCHASIMA—The Philippines is now officially back as king of basketball in the Southeast Asian Games.

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.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA—Laos will not include three Olympic sports—gymnastics, cycling and basketball—when it hosts the Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 2009.

Men, lady golfers settle for silver, so does Anya

The men’s team pushed themselves to the limit on the final day but a 19-point deficit was too big to overcome as Team Philippines salvaged a silver medal in team play at the close of the golf competitions in the 24th Southeast Asian Games held at the Bonanza Golf and Country Club.

Promise of a major facelift

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is readying for a massive overhaul of the country’s sports program in light of a Southeast Asian Games showing that is way below expectations.

Tough Turf: Equality in giving prize-money

IT is very disappointing to see our countrymen fighting for gold and glory in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and then being waylaid by the onslaught of their rivals.