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With new PATAFA chief, EJ Obiena hopes to be reinstated to PH national team

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Karl Cedrick Basco and Migs Bustos, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Ernest John Obiena EPA-EFE" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/08/03/20220803-ernest-john-obiena-epa-efe.jpg"/><figcaption>Ernest John Obiena of the Philippines celebrates his bronze during the medal ceremony for the Men&#x27;s Pole Vault Final at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA, 24 July 2022. <em>EPA-EFE/John G. Mabanglo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – The world’s third best pole vaulter EJ Obiena remains hopeful he will be included in the Philippine national team again as new leadership ushered in PATAFA.</p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN Sports’ “Off The Record,” Obiena revealed that he is still out of the Philippine team despite winning the first ever Athletics World medal of the Philippines. </p><p>Obiena clinched the bronze in men’s pole vault in Oregon, US after crossing the 5.94m bar, setting a new Asian record.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/28/22/obiena-now-worlds-no-3-in-mens-pole-vault-rankings">Obiena now world&#x27;s No. 3 in men&#x27;s pole vault rankings</a></li></ul><p>“I hope that things that are not ironed out will be ironed out. I mean, I&#x27;m still out of the team. I&#x27;m still, for some reason, out of the national team for I don&#x27;t know why,” he said. </p><p>Last month, Philip Ella Juico vacated his post as president of PATAFA to “focus on his personal and business interests and ventures and community advocacies.”</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/18/22/philip-ella-juico-resigns-from-patafa">Philip Ella Juico resigns from PATAFA</a></li></ul><p>Juico made headlines after he figured in an ugly spat with Obiena which stemmed from a funding issue related to the pole vaulter&#x27;s coach Vitaly Petrov.</p><p>The much publicized issue dragged on such that PATAFA initially excluded Obiena from the national team bound for the SEA Games.</p><p>Terry Capistrano, the secretary general of PATAFA, has been appointed as Juico’s replacement.</p><p>“It would be nice if I&#x27;ll be back. Hopefully, the board would be able to see that. And the new administration will make it happen,” said Obiena, who also admitted that he has a good relationship with Capistrano.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NIWpNKfgaIo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Obiena shared a little about his experience in competing at the World Championship. </p><p>According to him, he did not realize that he set a new record when he passed the 5.94 meters. “I was happy that I made it. But at that time, it didn&#x27;t register that it&#x27;s a new personal best, it&#x27;s a new record. I was just, &#x27;I&#x27;m still in the competition. I&#x27;m still in this game.&#x27; So, I better keep my focus on and try to win a medal.”</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/28/22/team-obiena-pledges-p500k-donation-to-lydia-de-vega">Team Obiena pledges P500K donation to Lydia de Vega</a></li></ul><p>Obiena moved the country when he pledged the P250,000 incentive he is set to receive from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to help former sprint queen Lydia de Vega who is battling cancer.</p><p>His team pledges a total of P500,000 to De Vega, who was once hailed as Asia’s fastest woman. </p>

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena remains hopeful that he will be included in the Philippine national team again as new leadership ushered in PATAFA.

With new PATAFA chief, EJ Obiena hopes to be reinstated to PH national team

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With new PATAFA chief, EJ Obiena hopes to be reinstated to PH national team

Karl Cedrick Basco and Migs Bustos,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 03, 2022 10:39 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 03, 2022 10:56 PM PHT

Read More:

EJ Obiena

Pole Vault

PATAFA

Terry Capistrano

Track and Field

Off The Record

Philippine national team

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