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| PSC commissioner Walter Torres, PSTAI president Karen Caballero, PSC chairman Pato Gregorio, and ASTAF deputy secretary general Mohammad Fariq Abdul Halem ceremonially started the countdown to the ASTAF U-19 Sepak Takraw Championship hosting in Manila. Peter Baltazar |
MANILA--Philippine Sepak Takraw Association president Karen Caballero said on Wednesday that her federation will make the most of the upcoming hosting of the U-19 Asian Sepak Takraw Championships from Nov 18-26 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Philippines, which once considered sepak takraw as the national sport and has remained among the top contenders on the global stage, has given the rights to host the inaugural staging of the tournament sanctioned by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation.
"Since this is maiden, talagang alam naming pabobonggahin ng Filipino ito," Caballero said during the press launch on Wednesday at the PSC Conference Room just beside the fabled arena.
"We're setting the standard so high to tell the other countries that you cannot just host for this event for the sake of hosting. There is a certain standard and quality, and the Philippines will be the one setting the tone for that."
Caballero was joined by PSC chairman Pato Gregorio, commissioner Walter Torres, and ASTAF deputy secretary general Muhammad Fariq Abdul Halim in officially launching the event.
She also said that they chose Rizal Memorial as the battleground over the main arenas of well-known sepak takraw hubs because they wanted to quickly issue a statement in terms of hosting the event.
"This will be the first, so want it to be a pasabog with the historic and iconic background of the Rizal Memorial," Caballero continued, adding that they may consider holding it in other cities if the Philippines gets another turn to host the tourney.
At least 12 countries are expected to clash in the U-19 Asian Sepak Takraw Championships.
