After dismal showing of Pinoy Olympic athletes, time to ask 'why'

[deeen]

Did the Philippines send a basketball team? How did they do? Or if not, why not? Seems like a big sport there?

[Terpe]

Did the Philippines send a basketball team? How did they do? Or if not, why not? Seems like a big sport there?

Nope, no basketball team. That would have more than doubled the whole olympic team entered. (and more than doubled the cost)

Aside from costs, and I stand to be be corrected, but I'm not sure the Philippines has a national team that actually meets all the conditions set by the 'rules'.

I did watch the ladies weightlifting with the Philippine competitor. She was actually very good and showed fantastic spirit, but IMHO was let down by the coaching team in the strategy of going only for gold, by varying the weight to enter. If you get the meaning.
Shame really. She ended up with 3 attempts but needed to take them consecutively and just didn't have the strength to do that. You need more than a couple of minutes recovery time between lifts at that level.