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SEA Games: Mikee Cojuangco worries Pinoys losing home edge amid building delays

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/11/23/20191123-mikee-cojuangco.jpg"/><figcaption>Without the benefit of familiarizing themselves with the competition venues, Filipino athletes participating in the SEA Games may not be able to maximize the proverbial home-court advantage, says former national athlete Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The Southeast Asian Games to be held here formally kicks off next week and organizers are racing against time to finish competition venues.</p><p>But the delays in setting those up have robbed local athletes the home court advantage they are supposed to be enjoying, according to Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, a former national athlete and currently the International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines.</p><p>“Ang home-court advantage kasama na roon ’yung makakapag-training ka kung saan ka magko-compete,” Cojuangco said in an interview on dzMM’s “Fastbreak” Saturday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1382109" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>“Malaking bagay ’yung alam mo ang surroundings mo, alam ko kung saan nanggagaling ang ilaw, ingay. ’Yung kaba mo mawawala ’pag nagko-compete ka na, kahit papaano mawawala kung at home ka na kung saan ka lalaban.</p><p>“Kaya nga home court, di ba?”</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/23/19/para-kay-mikee-cojuangco-konkretong-plano-di-lang-puso-kailangan-sa-sports">Para kay Mikee Cojuangco konkretong plano, di lang puso, kailangan sa sports</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/21/19/what-other-countries-sea-games-cauldrons-look-like">READ: What other countries’ SEA Games cauldrons look like</a></li></ul><p>Before transitioning to becoming a sports official, Cojuangco represented the Philippines in equestrian.</p><p>She won gold medals in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan and the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.</p><p>Cojuangco later served as director and secretary general of the Philippine Equestrian Federation, the sport’s national governing body, before holding the IOC post.</p><p>“Sa totoo lang ’yung experience ko nu’ng 2005 hindi naging madali maging atleta na nagko-compete sa Pilipinas kasi ’yung buhay ko bilang isang Pilipino, ina, kaibigan hindi nawawala ’yun. Nadagdag ’yung priority mo which is na SEA Games,” she said.</p><p>“Kung ganu’n na nga ang sitwasyon tapos hindi mo pa na-maximize ang pag-host, sayang naman.”</p><div><strong>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</strong></div>

<p>Without the benefit of familiarizing themselves with the competition venues, Filipino athletes may not be able to maximize the proverbial home-court advantage.</p>

Without the benefit of familiarizing themselves with the competition venues, Filipino athletes may not be able to maximize the proverbial home-court advantage.