Juico, Tabal set to iron out kinks on Rio

SUBIC – The camp of Mary Joy Tabal and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) have established an open line of communication to possibly resolve the issue on the Cebuano’s status as a qualifier to the Rio Olympics.

According to Tabal’s manager, Jonel Borromeo, he already had what he described as a “fruitful” preliminary talk with Patafa president Philip Ella Juico and added they are set to formally sit down Monday to smooth things out.

Borromeo, who is here to compete in the Regent 5150 Triathlon along with Tabal’s coach Philip Duenas, also expressed Tabal’s willingness to comply with Patafa’s requirements. Tabal met the qualifying time for the Olympiad during last week’s Ottawa marathon but ran into complication as she’s not a national team mainstay. Juico had said the Cebuana ace, who left the national squad after the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, needs to reapply and get herself reinstated.

“We understand that it’s definitely important for any Filipino to be part of the national team in order to go to the Olympics. There’s no such thing as going to the Olympics and not being part of the national team. There’s a process for this and we’re going to work with Patafa and Joy to meet it,” said Borromeo.

“If being part of the national team will lead her to the Olympics, she will do it,” he added.

Borromeo is president of Cebu-based Motor Ace Philippines, which has been sponsoring the 26-year-old Tabal since January. The company provides support for vitamins/supplement, training and race participation. Borromeo said they even sent Tabal to Nippon Sport Science University in Yokohama, Japan for training.

The Tabal camp is confident talks with Patafa bear positive results.

“Our approach now is really move forward on a positive note so that we can send the first Filipina marathoner to the Olympics. That’s the target so our discussion with Mr. Juico didn’t really focus so much what happened in the past but what we, the Patafa, and Joy herself, have to do. It was a very good discussion and I think we’d be good to go,” said Borromeo.

Tabal was scheduled to arrive from Canada last night.

In the middle of the controversy, Borromeo said he advised her to focus on training. “Whether you’re going to the Olympics or not, your job as an athlete is to perform.”