Hindi panandalian, bagkus pangmatagalang suporta ang puntirya ng Ayala Corporation para palakasin at pataasin ang ‘competitive level ng atletang Pinoy.
Ipinahayag ni Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) president Philip Ella ‘Popoy’ Juico, na nakipagtambalan ang Ayala Corporation para suportahan ang Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships, 2017 Southeast Asian Games at ang mga susunod pang programa ng asosasyon.
“The Ayala group, which of course, is led by Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala, expressed their interest in supporting track and field for several reasons, one of which is we will be hosting the 2019 SEA Games and they want to ensure that we do well in the centerfield event, with athletics having the most number of medals on a stand-alone basis,” pahayag ni Juico.
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“This partnership is broad, is very comprehensive, because it covers elite sports and it supports talent identification, going all the way down to the grassroots. This is also for strengthening the PATAFA as an institution. So malalim ito. I have been authorized to say that yes, there is this longtime partnership that we are forging, I’m sure this will be for the benefit of Philippine sports,” sambit ni Juico sa kanyang pagbisita sa PSA Forum kahapon kasama sina Patafa secretary general Renato Unson, national athletes Caleb Stuart at Chris Ulboc, Milo Sports Executive Robbie de Vera at Asic’s Judith Staples.
Magsisimula ang suporta sa gaganaping National Open sa Abril 7-9 sa Philsports Complex sa Pasig City.
Mangunguna para sa National Team sina Rio Olympic Games qualifier Eric Cray, SEA Games’ hammer throw record holder Caleb Stuart, pole vault specialist Emerson Obiena, long jumper Marestella Torres at steeplechase master Chris Ulboc.
Mapapalaban sila sa mga matitikas na collegiate player, gayundin sa ilang foreign athletes na inimbitahan ng Patafa.
“There is a lady from Singapore (Veronica Shanti Pereira), who gave Kayla Richardson a good fight in the 200, she’ll be here, and also one fellow from Korea but I forgot the name. There are many athletes here who are expected to give our athletes a run for their money,” pahayag ni Juico.
Tumapos si Pereira ng bronze sa likod ni gold medalist Richardson sa women’s 100-meter sprint sa Singapore SEAG, ngunit nakabawi ang Singaporean sa kanilang paghaharap sa 200-meter dash.
“Don’t look at the Philippine Open as just a way to qualify for the Olympics. Those joining are also preparing for events beyond 2016,” sambit ni Juico.
Magmumula ang foreign athletes sa South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Guam, Brunei at Mongolia.
May kabuuang 16 ginto ang nakataya sa opening day.
