Deputy chief of mission Julian Camacho has challenged all national sports associations (NSAs) to win at least two gold medals each to help the Philippines' bid of clinching the overall title in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Camacho believes the Philippines can repeat as overall champions in the 26th edition of the biennial meet, scheduled on November 11 to 22.

"That is really our aim, to win the overall championship," said Camacho, when asked for an assessment of the Philippine team's chances. "It can happen as long as everyone can win two gold medals for each sport."

The Philippines won the overall title when the country hosted the biennial event in 2005 and Camacho said that can happen again.

"That is attainable as long as everybody works hard for it," added Camacho, who is also the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) treasurer.

Host Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam remain a big threat to the Philippines' bid.

The POC has asked all NSAs to submit their line-ups on Wednesday for the SEA Games. The POC-Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) working group will study the line-ups to know if the athlete on the list deserves to be in the national team.

Camacho and his co-deputy Romeo Magat recently arrived from Indonesia to attend the chef de mission meeting last week.

Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Committee (INASOC) officials toured the chief of missions of different countries in Palembang province and Jakarta where the games will be held.

Camacho said an INASOC official reported that they are 85 percent ready to stage the SEA Games. 

source: Reuben Terrado/JVP -GMA News