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Source: gmanews.tv
-- The main bulk of Team Philippines finally arrived here Sunday, all battle-ready and in high spirits four days before the 25th Southeast Asian Games opens in this former French colony.

Two chartered planes provided by both the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) came one after the other, carrying with them the 317-man delegation that included billiards great Efren “Bata" Reyes, Asian boxing champion Annie Albania, 2007 SEA Games Best Male Athlete Miguel Molina and one-time Andre Agassi conqueror Cecil Mamiit.

RP Team Chef de Mission Mario Tanchangco and Ambassador Marlyn Alarilla were on hand to welcome the athletes and officials headed by POC president Jose “Peping" Cojuangco, who were warmly greeted at the airport lobby with shouts of “Mabuhay!" by a small Filipino contingent.

Loss in water polo

But a few hours upon their arrival, the Filipinos received the bad news of the water polo team’s 1-8 drubbing at the hands of Singapore in what may believed as the championship match at the National Sports Complex.

The loss was the first for the team after two outings, but blew its best chance of wresting the gold from Singapore (2-0) after finishing runner-up in the last two stagings of the meet. Singapore has been the gold medal winner in the sport the past 28 years.

The Filipinos now need to prevail over winless Indonesia (0-2) in their 1 p.m. encounter Monday to salvage another silver medal finish.

Other members of Team Philippines won’t plunge into action until Wednesday when Laos formally unveils its first hosting of the region’s sporting meet.

Kicking off the country’s bid are the contact sports of taekwondo, judo and karatedo.

Standing in the Filipinos’ way, however, are perennial powerhouse Thailand, co-favorite Vietnam and Indonesia, Malaysia and the hosts, who are all considered darkhorses in the race for the overall plum.

In the meet’s last edition in Thailand, the Filipinos only took home 42 golds and were edged out for fifth place by Singapore.

In order to satisfy the appetite of the RP delegation, a Laotian-based cook under the supervision of Ambassador Alarilla had been trained to cook the local food adobo and sinigang to be served as part of its daily fare at the Athletes’ Village.

Likewise, as arranged following a conversation with PSC chairman Harry Angping, Alarilla is also bringing in Filipino expats based here and in neighboring Thailand to go and cheer for the Nationals for the duration of the sports conclave that ends Dec. 18.

Cyclists’ dilemma

One major dilemma staring the RP contingent’s campaign here, however, is the fate of the 12 cyclists entered in their respective events.

The case of the riders has yet to be finalized in a meeting that could end in a division of the house among members of the SEAG Federation later Sunday.

According to Tanchangco, they have already made representations with the SEAG Federation Council and now await the decision of the members.

If no such verdict is reached, then a deciding vote could be taken.

The 12, led by 2007 winner Alfie Catalan and fellow veterans Eusebio Quiñones and Erick Feliciano, are identified with the faction of businessman Mikee Romero, currently contesting the leadership of the country’s national governing body for the sport with Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

Romero is presently on leave, but continues to support the campaign of the RP riders. He is recognized by the POC, but Tolentino has the nod of the PSC, plus both the International Cycling Union and the Asian Cycling Confederation, which issue licenses needed for the riders to compete internationally.

At present, only Maritess Bitbit, winner of the 2007 road race, is officially the only RP rider entered after being given nod by Romero and getting the official blessing by Tolentino.