SUBIC Bay Freeport—Philippine sports officials lauded the successful staging of the modern pentathlon test event here last week and expressed confidence that the upcoming competitions in Subic will go smoothly.
Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Chief Operating Officer Ramon “Tats” Suzara observed that the preparations here are well-organized, as he viewed the test run with Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association (PMPA) President Richard Gomez, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma, Phisgoc Subic Cluster Overall Head Ramon Agregado and other sports officials.
“We have raised the level of SEA Games to Asian Games level,” Suzara pointed out during the test run at the Boardwalk Park here.
“I’m very, very confident that with the support of SBMA Chairman Eisma and Monch Agregado here, as well as with the support of Phisgoc, we’ll have a very successful and well-organized Subic Cluster for the SEA games,” Suzara added.
The test event, which saw Team Philippines sweeping all three gold medals at stake, was the first of a two-day event designed to let participants and coaches experience the look and feel of the actual event.
“Everything went well, and even the weather cooperated,” Agregado said. “I’m sure everybody will agree that the look and feel of the event is world-class, so we hope to build on that and be ready by the opening of the games,” he added.
Gomez thanked the Phisgoc and SBMA for putting up a successful test event and lauded security preparations.
“As you can see during the preparation and during the setup, some men in uniform were there. There were PNP personnel, and people from PMMA. People are working very hard to make sure that the SEA Games—not just here but in all the venues—will be secured,” Gomez said.
Gomez, also mayor of Ormoc City, stressed that this will be the first time that modern pentathlon will be played in the SEA Games and expressed high hopes that that the Philippines would carve a name in the sport.
The Ormoc-based Philippine team bagged three golds during the test event—Princess Abilon in the women’s individual category, and in mixed relay with Samuel German and Michael Comaling in the men’s individual category.
Gomez said that although they have not seen Indonesia and Singapore athletes play, he knew they would be tough competition for the Philippine team.
Image credits: Henry Empeño