With the 32nd Southeast Asian Games set be held in Cambodia a year from now, national athletes will have to go back to training as soon as possible and be at their best again.
Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said this as 53 national athletes, who won a total of 105 medals during the 31st edition of the meet will be feted this Wednesday in Malacañang by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Generally, the national sports associations will have to go back to the drawing board and find out kung saan dapat may improvement ang training program,” said Fernandez, who was the chef de mission of the national delegation when the games were held over the last two weeks this month.
Malacañang has summoned all the medallists from the Games to Palace and hinted of giving additional incentives.
Fernandez believes that before the Cambodian meet gets going, it is important for the athletes to go into international competitions and get the needed exposure.
“The NSAs would know what to do about this,” added Fernandez.
The Philippines won a total of 52 golds, 70 silvers and 108 bronzes to end up in fourth place in the Vietnam SEA Games.