SEA GAMES Beram out of PH team
Despite the absence of FilAmerican Trenten Anthony Beram, hopes remain high that the Philippines will improve on its five-gold medal haul in athletics in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
“Baka maka-walo,” said Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) secretary-general Renato Unso who announced the transfer of the national track and field team to the newly-built stadium at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac on Aug. 27.
PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico said Beram has been dropped from the national team training for the biennial event.
“We haven’t heard from Beram since February. He has not replied to our e-mails,” said Juico.
Beram won the men’s 200 and 400-meter runs in Kuala Lumpur two years ago and his non-inclusion is seen as a big dent in the country’s ambitious bid to win the overall title at home for the second time.
Unso, a member of the famed Gintong Alay team that won 11 gold medals in the 1983 SEA Games, said final tryouts will be held on Sept. 1.
“The day after the tryouts, we will have completed the lineup for submission on Sept. 8,” said Unso.
Among the gold medal hopefuls are defending champions Eric Shaun Cray, Aries Toledo and Mary Joy Tabal in the men’s 400meter relay, men’s decathlon and women’s marathon, respectively.
Also favored to win are pole vault sensation Ernest John Obiena and sprinter Kristina Knott who is eyeing to break the long-standing record of the legendary Lydia de Vega in the century-dash.