Mary Joy Tabal, the newly crowned Ottawa half marathon champion, answers questions from reporters regarding her expulsion from the national team for the upcoming SEA Games / CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA
Mary Joy Tabal was reinstated to the Philippine National Team, according to a source from the Cebuana runner’s corporate backer, MotorAce Philippines.
The development was texted to Cebu Daily News by Cleo Lutao, PR of MotorAce.
The text read: “Hi, media friends. Good news! As per Mr. Jonel Borromeo, Joy is reinstated to the Phil. National Team. That’s all the details we have so far as Sir Jonel is in China on a business trip. You can confirm with Patafa sources. We will update you on our end, once we get ahold of Sir Jonel. Thank you.”
Tabal was recently excluded from the National Team lineup by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) for allegedly violating some of the federation’s rules and regulations.
Tabal, before leaving for Italy last week to train, said she and her team would work things out with Patafa for her reinstatement.
Borromeo met with officials of Patafa on Tuesday regarding the issue and said the meeting was “fruitful.”
The 28-year-old Tabal, meanwhile, said she is happy with the latest development, which would mean she will be able to represent the country in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia this August.
“Thank you to Patafa and Dr. (Philip) Juico for allowing me to carry the flag in the SEA games! It’s a National pride to be chosen to represent our country, and it’s a great honor for me to do it,” Tabal told Cebu Daily News.
Tabal is the first Filipina to compete in the Olympics’ women’s marathon last year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.