PH cyclists to ride for Olympic spots

The Philippine cycling team’s hopes of claiming a spot in the 2012 London Olympics lie on Filipino-American BMX riders Daniel Patrick Manabat and Alexis Manosa.

Emmet Penson, an official of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, said the duo has a great chance of snaring Olympic berths for London.

The two can gain spots in the Games if they finish in the top six of the 2012 UCI BMX World Championships. But Penson admits that before thinking about vying the Olympics, Manabat and Manosa need to settle their UCI licenses before competing for Olympic qualifiers.

Manabat and Manosa were set to compete in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia but were disqualified for carrying United States and Philippine UCI licenses.

“Kapag naayos na ang issue na ‘yun, puwede tayong makapasok sa Olympics,” said Penson in Friday’s SCOOP forum.

Manabat is a two-time world silver medalist in BMX, an event that will be making its second appearance in the Olympics next year. Manosa, on the other hand, once ranked as high as ninth in the United States Pro Tour in 2004.

Penson said that Manabat and Manosa could have easily won a gold medal in the SEA Games if not for the technicality.

“Naisama na sila sa start list pero, on the last minute, na-disqualify pa rin sila,” Penson said.

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