JAKARTA, Indonesia – Some Filipino athletes’ worst logistical nightmare came true just days before the start of their 2018 Asian Games campaign. 

The Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation (PCKDF) left for Jakarta on Tuesday, August 21, but their canoes could not be loaded to their connecting flight to Palembang right away. 

“Di kasi nag fit (ang mga canoes) sa Garuda airlines on our way here sa Palembang from Jakarta,” said head coach Len Escollante. 

(The canoes couldn’t fit into the plane of Garuda airlines on our way here to Palembang from Jakarta.) 

“So we had to wait for a bigger plane para pumasok ‘yung canoe,” added Philippine chef de mission Richard Gomez.

(So we had to wait for a bigger plane that could fit the canoe.)

There were also issues with customs in Indonesia that caused problems for the jetski team.

“[Philippine bet]  BJ Ang, his jetskis were here already last week pa [but they weren’t released],” recalled Gomez.

(Philippine bet BJ Ang’s jetskis were already here last week but they weren’t released.) 

Gomez also revealed that the Xiamen plane that skidded off the NAIA runway last Friday, August 17 caused major delays for several athletes. 

“Naka-affect talaga sa atin. At saka maraming mga athletes na naghintay ng matagal sa airport,” said Gomez. 

Some athletes who were competing in Jakarta even lost their luggage, which were eventually found in Palembang. 

But Gomez said officials have been trying to resolve all the logistical problems of the Philippine team delegation.

The Philippines has racked up six medals – highlighted by Hidilyn Diaz’s gold in weightlifting. – Rappler.com