Dalawang pambato ng Pilipinas sa sports ang hindi makakalaro sa darating na South East Asian Games na gaganapin sa Phonm Penh, Cambodia sa Mayo.
Lalaktawan ng Filipino gymnast ace na si Carlos Yulo, gayundin ng Tokyo Olympics gold medalist na si Hidilyn Diaz ang naturang biennial event upang lumaro sa Olympic qualifiers.
“The last time I talked to Ma’am Cynthia Carrion was that he (Yulo) won’t be able to join the South East Asian Games,” ani Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann sa isang forum ng Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) nakaraang, Jan. 31.
“Same thing I understand, Hidilyn is also not going to the SEA Games.”
Subalit sa kabila nito, nanatiling positibo parin ang pananaw ni Bachmann partikular para sa ibang miyembro ng Philippine national team.
“It’s a perfect time for other athletes who’s been training to step up and perform for the national team,” wika ni Bachmann. “It’s about time other athletes step up. That’s why we have a national pool, that’s why we have grassroots (program).”
Si Diaz at Yulo ay parehong dinomina ang kanilang larangan sa SEA Games noong nakaraang taon sa Vietnam kung saan nagtapos sa ika apat na pwesto ang Pilipinas.
