Fil-Am world dance champ denied SEAG participation

By Peter Atencio

FIL-AMERICAN breakdancing phenom Logan Ellana Edra won’t be allowed to compete in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Officials of the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee recently informed the Philippine Olympic Committee of their decision not to let the 19-year-old Edra represent the Philippines in the biennial meet.

“Hindi pinayagan. Sa susunod na lang,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino after receiving word from Camsoc on the status of Edra, the 2021 Red Bull BC One Women World Breakdancing champion.

Tolentino said there is still hope for Edra to see action for the country in the future.

That’s because she will be able to meet a two-year residency requirement imposed by the SEA Games Federation, once she gets a release from the United States’ DanceSport Breaking Division to be able to dance for the Philippines.

Tolentino said Edra missed a chance to dance for the country after her Philippine passport application only was approved last February.

Edra’s Filipino partner Ilyvm “Dudut” Gabriel will just have pair with another female partner in the Games.

National coach Melvin Ang said they will now have to choose between Alyanna Tallam and Debbie Mahinay.

Last February, Edra was formally presented as a member of Team Philippines. She was in the country for two weeks to finalize the process of acquiring her Filipino passport.