PACQUIAO PRAISES PHIL?S SEA GAMES PERFORMANCE
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Jul 2015
Eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Mannny Pacquiao paid tribute to the Philippine delegation's modest 29-gold medal harvest and sixth overall finish in the recently-ended 28th Southeast Asian Games.
Instead of joining the many voices denouncing the Filipino athletes' performances as a debacle, Pacquiao, for his part, lauded such showing as indicative of what's in store for the country in future international competitions including next year's Olympic Games in Brazil.
"For the mere fact that this year's medal winners are new faces that, therefore, represent the future of Philippine sports, I consider our athletes' feats as very successful in terms of investment in the coming international commitments," Pacquiao, known also as the "Pacman," diagnosed.
"Truth to tell, I was expecting old names like Mark Anthony Barriga and Charlie Suarez in boxing, Eduardo Buenavista and Maristella Torres in athletics, Tac Padilla in shooting, to mention a few, as in many years, to adorn our list of medalists," Pacquiao told this writer in an interview at his Forbes Park Friday night.
"But to my surprise, what I saw were new faces like M. Claire Adorna and Nikka Bryan Huelas in triathlon, Eric Shawn Cray and Kayla Richardson in track and field and Mario Fernandez,, Eumir Felix Marcial, Junel Cantancio and Ian Clark Bautista, all in boxing and Marella Salamat in cycling, among others, leading our campaign," Pacquiao said.
"What I mean is, mga bago na ito, names unheard the past editions of the SEA Games," he said with glow in his eye in the presence of chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre, who led a group of pawnpushers who paid him a visit that night, "This means Philippine sports is not dead as many of our countrymen and even several sports leaders have claiming."
I'm glad, really of the results, especially in my event boxing where we bagged five gold medals. Magandang balita yan sa campagin natin for ouR first Olympic gold medal next year in Rio de Janeiro," he exclaimed.
"Well, hanggang ngayon naman eh alam nating lahat na ang pinakamalaking pagasa natin sa first Olymic gold ay sa boksing, kaya I'm elated na mayroon tayong mga ganitong mga batang bagong discovery na may panahon a para ma-train ng maayos," Pacquiao, who was reported as to have been appointed as chair of the lower House's committee on the country's participation sin the 2016 Summer Games, said.
The father of five with wife, Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee, confessed though of his ignorance on th naTure of such an appointment announced by House Speaker Belmonte about a month ago.
"Actually, I really still is at a loss on the nature of that appointment, which, onestly speaking, I haven't seen," he admitted. "Whatever is the situation, however, I just would like to make it official that whatever help is needed to help in attaining that long dream of us , I am very willing to lend my hand."
"Especially in boxing where I spent almost half of my life the past 20 or so years travelling to the world boxing capitals and establishing rapport with the leaders of amateur boxing, who, I'm sure, are also willing to help," he said.
"Kung paanong mate-train natin ang ating mga boksingero ayon sa latest technique, I can even talk to Freddie (Roach) na ma-avail natin ang facilities ng wild Card Gym kung saan ay maraming topnotch trainer na makatulong," the three-time Fighter of the Year," offered.
That, Pacquiao added, would also benefit local coaches and trainers who could learn through an exchange program with their highly-gifted counterparts.
"Lessons, which they can transfer to their young and promising Filipino pupils," Pacquiao observed. "Not only in boxing, we also have so many contacts in other sports in regards to other sports as shooting swimming, taekwondo, and even badminton, tennis and others.'
"As I said, we can use the results of the recent SEA Games as an investment for our future international commitments in sports," Pacquiao said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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