Singapore going all out to beat Phl in SEAG

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia yesterday said it’s easier said than done for the Philippines to crowd host Singapore in the 28th Southeast Asian Games.

“I don’t think Singapore will allow that,” said Garcia.

The PSC chief said Singapore could be eyeing fourth spot, perhaps behind Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Singapore was sixth in the last SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013, just in front of the Philippines, which came in seventh for its lowest ranking in history.

“I think so,” said Garcia of a possible fourth- place finish for Singapore in the June 5 to 16 Games that will offer a total of 402 gold medals.

“Or fifth will be good,” he said of the tiny but progressive island nation.

Philippine chef- de- mission Julian Camacho has projected 40 to 50 gold medals for the 466 Pinoy athletes that will compete in 35 of the 36 sports, excluding field hockey.

Camacho said if the country hits its target, then it’s possible for the Filipinos to even land fifth even if the primary goal is just to improve on the 2013 finish.

“I’m not a fortune teller,” said Camacho, who based his forecast on the reports filed by the different national sports associations sending athletes to the Games.

Camacho said the combined forecast from the NSAs even show as many as 60 gold medals to be won.

“But as long as we improve on our sev- enth place finish in 2013 we will be happy,” he said.

Singapore, like the Philippines, has projected a gold medal haul of 50 to commemorate its 50th National Day.

When Singapore last hosted the SEA Games in 1993, it won 50 gold, 40 silver and 74 bronze medals for fourth place behind Indonesia ( 88- 81- 84), Thailand ( 63- 70- 63) and the Philippines ( 57- 59- 72).