SUBIC BAY FREEPORT —Philippine sports officials lauded the successful staging of the modern pentathlon test event here on Wednesday and expressed confidence that the upcoming competitions in Subic will go smoothly.
Philippine SEA 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 T. 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 Amy 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.
Wednesday’s test run, 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.
PHISGOC Subic Cluster overall head Ramon Agregado said the test event benefited from a good set-up. “Everything went well, and even the weather cooperated,” he 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.
In a press briefing after the test event, PMPA president Richard Gomez thanked PHISGOC and SBMA for putting up a successful test run and lauded security preparations here, as well.
“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 noted.
Gomez, who is 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 will carve a name in this field.
The Ormoc-based Philippine team bagged three golds during the test event, as Princess Abilon snagged a gold in the women’s individual category and snatched another one in mixed relay with partner Samuel German. The third gold was won by Michael Comaling in the men’s individual category.
Gomez said that although they have not seen Indonesia and Singapore play, he knew they would be tough competition for the Philippine team.
Still, Gomez said the local pentathlon team will not stop training to ensure that they will bring home the gold in the coming SEA Games.