PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino said the eight gold medals initially projected for the 20th Asian Games was achievable if not for losses in close finishes in some of the events.
Tolentino insisted he doesn't regret making the fearless forecast, saying there were indeed a number of Filipino athletes capable of delivering the projected gold medals during the 14-day continental conclave.
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“I can say that hindi ko puwedeng ikahiya na kaya talaga ‘'yung eight.” Tolentino said during a welcome dinner on Monday night hosted by the POC at the Century Park Hotel upon the Asiad delegation's arrival from Nagoya, Japan.
“Yes, it was eight. Doon lang tayo pipitas sa silver, pipitas sa bronze. Pitas lang para maging eight,” said Tolentino.
The Philippines won four gold medals - two from Carlos Yulo in gymnastics, one from EJ Obiena in athletics, and another from Jeus Yape in taekwondo - in the 20th edition, four below the eight that was projected by Tolentino.
Team Philippines also got nine silver and 16 bronze medals for a total of 29 - good for 17th place in the final tally.
Tolentino said there were silvers and bronzes that should have been gold if not for varying reasons that included the officiating and judging, particularly in the case of boxer Carlo Paalam.
The POC president cited the close defeats of Jean Claude Saclag in MMA where he already knocked out his opponent in the first round, and Victoria Bossong topping her heats in the women’s 800m only to settle for bronze in the final.
“Kay Carlo Paalam nakita niyo naman, kayo na humusga doon. That’s sure of gold. ‘Yung dalawang jiu-jitsu at taekwondo na silver, they got both zero sa scoring. Ang nag-decide na lang, referee. It was a referee decision.
“Sobra sobra pa nga ‘yun. Kay Saclag sa MMA. Matagal ko na sinasabi ‘yun na may nakatago ‘yung silver niya. Nangigil lang ‘yung atleta natin.”
“One bronze that should have been gold, with due respect to Victoria (Bossong)... sa heat time No. 1, 2:02, sa final 2:04, should have been gold,” said Tolentino.
The POC chief said that despite not reaching the eight-gold target, he is happy with the performance of Team Philippines in Aichi-Nagoya.
“Hindi ko tinatanggi kasi matagal na namin alam ni [Philippine Sports Commission] Chairman (Patrick Gregorio) na may paghuhugutan ng eight [gold medals]," Tolentino said. "Still, we are very, very happy sa result."
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