POC still looking for funds for Asa Miller

THE 2022 Winter Olympics is set to open in Beijing, China on February 4 and yet the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is still trying to get funding from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the participation of Filipino-American alpine skier Asa Miller.

“We have written to the PSC, hindi pa sumasagot if they can give us funding for the Winter Olympics,” POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said Tuesday morning at the Pandesal Forum.

“I will write to them again later and I will tell them to just mind the athlete and the coach. That is their mandate naman. Don’t worry about the officials, we will take care of ourselves.”

Tolentino, however, said that even if the PSC cannot give financial assistance to Miller, the only Filipino to qualify for the Beijing Games, the POC will shoulder the expenses.

“The POC will look for funding. That is my commitment,” Tolentino said.

“Still, we are hoping that the PSC will reply. If not, the POC will look for funding elsewhere.”

The 2022 Winter Olympics was not included in the PSC budget in the General Appropriations Act. The PSC is also not supporting the training of Miller.

Tolentino explains: “First you have to be a regular member of the POC to get support from the PSC and the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation, the national sports association of Miller, is not a regular member of the POC yet. Associate member pa sila.”

Miller, a two-time Olympian, will compete in the giant slalom on February 13 and the slalom on February 16.

Miller, whose mother hails from Sta. Cruz, Manila, will leave Portland on January 28 and is expected to arrive in Beijing with his coach on January 30.

“We have to be there early because they have very strict protocols,” said Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation President Jim Palomar who also appeared in the online forum.

“We decided to come early to acclimatize and to also join the opening ceremony where he (Miller) is our flag bearer.”

Palomar, who will also arrive in Beijing on January 30, expects Miller to have a better showing in Beijing than his performance in the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.

“Asa is doing very well. He has improved a lot,” he said.