PSC CHIEF: IT’S ALL ABOUT COMPETENCE

Funding won’t be the reason the Philippine Sports Commission wants a smaller delegation to the Southeast Asian Games next year.

It’s more about competence.

PSC Chair Butch Ramirez pointed this out after his deliberation with Task Force Southeast Asian Games.

Ramirez met with Philippine Olympic Committee representatives Dave Carter (judo) and Raymond Lee Reyes (karatedo) yesterday and they initially pegged the number of Philippine delegation to 600.

The number will go down as they apply the criteria they set, which includes the athletes performance in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, Ramirez said.

“We are talking not only of the placings but the number of medals as well,” said Ramirez. “This 29 golds should increase and we have to improve from 6th place.”

He said the PSC has enough funds to bankroll that many athletes but the agency will actively scrutinize the roster and decide who will be sent to the Malaysia Games slated Aug. 19 to 31.

However, the PSC won’t shut the door on any national sports association and even gave sports like women’s volleyball and netball a chance to justify their inclusion.

Carter said the 600 will be transmitted for the purpose of informing the Malaysian organizers how many they can expect from the Philippine delegation.