Tabal proudly shows the Philippine flag after winning the 21-kilometer race of the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in Canada.
contributed
She bagged a silver medal in women’s marathon during the 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games. She won the National Milo Marathon for the fourth straight time last December.
Then she shattered the national record in the 21-kilometer half marathon while winning the recent Scotia Bank Ottawa Marathon in Canada last May 29. She has been in fearsome form with her stringent training here and abroad as she continues to gather momentum in her quest for the Sea Games gold this August and to give honor to the country the best way she knows how.
Mary Joy Tabal, for all her achievements and athletic portfolio should be a cinch for the national athletics team.
No!
Instead, the petite Cebuana running sensation was handed the exit papers by officials of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) led by Patafa chief Philip Ella Juico during a press conference yesterday in Manila.
In the presser, Juico also presented the NSA’s 2017 Seag roster.
Juico enumerated a host of alleged violations committed by the Cebuana which compelled him to drop her from the team including her refusal to train in Manila.
Joy in tears
Tabal’s trainer, John Philip Dueñas said that his prized ward cried when she learned about Patafa’s decision.
“I pity Joy because she’s crying right now. She’s still in Korea waiting to board the plane bound for Cebu,” said Dueñas.
Dueñas who’s been the trainer of Tabal since the start of her running career told CDN that they were advised not to comment on the matter just yet.
Motorace Philippines chief Jonel Borromeo, who sponsored Tabal’s trips and training abroad also refused to issue any statement saying they would address the matter in today’s press conference at the Casino Español which is supposed to be Tabal’s welcome party.
“Sisirain mo itong community, wawasakin mo pa itong federation,” Spin.ph quoted Juico. “Ayaw na namin sa iyo, tapos,” said an exasperated Juico during the hastily called presser, the Spin.ph article added.
On his Facebook post, PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez described Tabal’s ouster as discrimination of a ‘Promdi.’
“Discrimination of the first degree of a Promdi, Cebuana and Filipina marathoner! The best there is in the Philippine Marathon history! Just because she prefers to train in her hometown with her coach that started her career since she was 19 years old in the mountains of Cebu City. But Popoy (Juico) allows Cray and other Fil-foreign athletes to train with their own coaches too where they reside abroad and receive allowances!” said Fernandez.
He also posted on his fb account a few days ago that he might file a petition in the Cebu City Council against Patafa for discriminating against Tabal.