THE PILIPINAS Obstacle Sports
Federation (POSF) recently finalized the 16-strong lineup that will see action
in the 30th Southeast Asian Games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
POSF president Atty. Alberto Agra announced the Philippine obstacle sports
athletes that will try to win all six gold medals to be disputed. They are
Kevin Pascua, Mark Rodelas, Sherwin Managil, Mervin Guarte, Jeffrey Reginio,
Nathaniel Sanchez, Monolito Divina and Kyle Antolin in the men’s side, and
Rochelle Suarez, Milky Mae Tejares, Sandi Abahan, Glorien Merisco, Kaizen Dela
Serna, Deanne Moncada, Klymille Rodriguez, and Diana Buhler on the distaff
side.
The six gold medals to be disputed in the sport that is making its first
appearance in the SEA Games will come in the men’s and women’s individual 5km x
20 obstacles, men’s and women’s 100m x 10 obstacles, and the 400m x 12
obstacles team assist and team relay.
“We are doing everything in training.
The aim is to win all six gold medals in the SEA Games,” said Merisco.
The team will spend the next three months training at the world-class Pretty
Huge Obstacles at SM Aura. They will train six days a week except Sundays, and
one full week for the next three months they will be quartered under one roof.
“That’s one full week for every month until the SEA Games,” said Moncada,
Also part of the coaching staff were Raven Quan (supervising), Mark Parilla
(obstacles), Ken Tan (strength and conditioning), Saul Sibayan (running), and
Anj Borras (physiotherapy).
***
The PBA Commissioner’s Office has
given Calvin Abueva the go signal to participate in the practices of the
Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters but his league suspension still stands until now.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said he granted the request of the former PBA
Rookie of the Year to rejoin the Fuel Masters’ practices for him to regain his
game shape.
Marcial, however, said there is no definite timetable set on Abueva’s return. A process will have to be followed and conditions met before the indefinite suspension is lifted.
“Tumataba
na raw kasi siya kaya pinagbigyan ko na na sumali sa practices (ng Phoenix),”
Marcial said. “But wala pa tayong
timetable kung kailan siya makakalaro
dahil me proseso ‘yan.”
Fuel Masters head coach Francisco Luis Alas welcomed the development. The
former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay could provide huge impact to the team, which is
on a 0-2 start in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup.
“Hopefully lang mapadali,” said Alas. “(Pero)
at least ngayon may natatanaw ka nang
liwanag sa dulo ng tunnel. Noon
talagang confused kami kung
ano.”
Abueva was slapped with indefinite suspension by Marcial three months ago
following his clothesline hit on TNT KaTropa import Terrence Jones during the
early part of the Commissioner’s Cup./PN
