All set for Patafa tourney
Not even the threat of the new coronavirus variant could stop the Ayala Philippine National Championships at the Baguio Athletics Bowl in Baguio City from 16 to 17 December.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) president Philip Ella Juico yesterday told Daily Tribune that they have already mapped out all the health and safety protocols to make sure that the prestigious tourney will push through as planned. The tourney is tipped to be a dogfight.
Aside from being tagged as the first major athletic meet in nearly two years, the federation will also use the tourney as a gauge in forming the national team that will see action in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou this year.
We’re very confident over the success of this tournament.
Abroad-based talents like EJ Obiena, Eric Cray, Kristina Knott and Nathalie Uy will not be around, but elite athletes like Christine Hallasgo, Anfernee Lopena, Clinton Bautista and Aries Toledo will see action to defend their spots in the national squad.
Juico said everything is already set, especially the Covid-19 protocols. “We’re very confident over the success of this tournament. We have been discussing and coordinating with the people in Baguio since July,” Juico said, adding that the local government of Baguio City is leaving no stone unturned in coming up with a safe staging of the event.
“Mayor Benjie Magalong of Baguio, who is also a Patafa regional director, is very conscious of this. I know there are already trials at the border before going in.”
The national athletics team has been in the City of Pines since November. With that, they are already used to moving around the area, making it easier for Patafa and the local government unit to implement the guidelines.
“It’s up to the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), the MSAS (Medical Scientific Athletes Services) and the LGU (local government unit),” Juico said.