WILL OUR OLYMPIC MEDAL DROUGHT COME TO AN END?
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 28 Jul 2012
The chances of the lean Philippine delegation to bring home at least a medal in the 30th Olympiad in London is not that bleak. This was revealed by a study made by a SCOOP panel, headed by Red Dumuk on the possibility of the nationals? breaking a 12-year and three-Olympic medal drought the county has been suffering since boxer Mansueto ?Onyok? Velasco gifted the Philippines its second silver medal during the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Dumuk disclosed during yesterday?s SCOOP session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura that at least four of the 11-athletes the country sent to London ? boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, BMX rider Daniel Caluag, long jumper Maristella Torres and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz -- have more than 50 percent chance of landing in the medal column based on their recent performances on the way to earning their tickets to this year?s edition of the quadrennial conclave.
The results of the study contradicted an earlier statement attributed to Philippine Olympic committee chair Monico Puentevella advising the public not to expect a medal as only a miracle could save the national from coming home with another big, flat egg.
?Don?t expect any medal,? Puentevella, also the president of the weightlifting association declared in the same forum exactly a week ago.? ?The 11-athlete delegation we are sending needs a miracle for them to win at least a bronze medal.?
?With due respect to the POC chair, Mr. Puentevella could have made the statement to challenge our athletes into doing their best to bring home a medal,? Dumuk said during the forum, sponsored by Powerade, AKTV and FILA. ?But knowing our athletes and scanning their latest performances, either one of these four might pocket at least one medal of any color,? he projected.
?Or, and let?s hope and pray that this happens, all of them might stand in the victory podium,? Dumuk, a former National Course Director of Olympic Solidarity?s Itinerant School for Sports Leaders, who appeared as guest along with newly-anointed commissioner Iggy Clavecilla of the Philippine Sports Commission, among others, remarked.
Barriga?s recent title defense of his light-flyweight title in the Jackson Memorial Tournament over Russia?s David Ayrapetyan, a fellow London-bound fighter who is the reigning two-time European champion in the 48-kilogram division and the 2011 World Championship silver medalist, can, most-likely take him to the medal podium.
?Besides, history seems to favor Barriga in the fact that the last three medals won by the Philippines in the Games came in the light-fly category,? Dumuk recalled in reference to Lepoldo Serrantes in 1988 and Roel Valasco in 1992 , both bronze medals, and the latter?s younger brother Mansueto in 1996.
Also, five of the country?s nine medal harvest in the quadrennial meet, came from boxing, including the first silver courtesy of Anthony Villanueva in 1964 and a bronze by his father Jose ?Cely? Villanueva in 1932.
National coach Boy Velasco, the eldest of the Velasco brothers said should Barriga, who is coached by Roel, gets lucky in the draw, he could advance into the medal play in three fights.
?Malaking bagay ang drawing of lots kasi ito ang mad-decide kung sino ang makakalaban natin sa opening rounds. Pag na-draw ng mahina-hinang kalaban at nanao, tuloy-tuloy na yan,? the elder Velasco said.
That and the all-out support being extend by the ABAP hierarchy, led by its chairman. businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan, and president Ricky Vargas, could, indeed spell the difference.
For Dumuk though, 25-year-old Fil-Am BMX campaigner Caluag, a four-time top BMX rider in the U.S., could be the country?s brightest hope for a bronze medal of even higher.
?By competing in at least three Olympic qualifying races to earn his ticket to London, I can see Caluag as the most prepared,? Dumuk analyzed. ?I can also see his would-be rivals as already spent after taking part in more than three qualifying races.?
?Another factor going for our bet is the format of the Olympic races which is different from the world championship in the sense that in London where there will be no time trial and that the participants would be lesser,? he said. ?While in racing against the best during the world championship, which fell during school season in the U.S., now it?s vacation time and Caluag would not thinking of his studies.?
Dumuk said if Torres and Diaz can equal or surpass their personal best efforts this year, anyone of them or both can return home with a medal each in their pockets.
?Torres, did a 6.71 meters in the Asian championships, which is better than the 6.70 bronze medal jump four years ago in Beijing, then let?s count her as a prospective medalist,? he reasoned out. ?Hidily can also make it to the medal tally if she can duplicate her 225-kilogram personal best effort. The bronze medalist in Beijing only did 226-kilogram, that?s why.?
Dumuk said the Fil-Japanese judoka Tomohiko Hoshina would be lucky to end up in the top 10, adding that long distance runner and five-time Southeast Asian Games winner Rene Herrera?s winning time of 8:52.23 in his event in the 2011 SEAG ,was 28 seconds better.
Archers Mark Javier and Rachel Ann Cabral and 18-year-old swimmers Jessie Khing Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi would be lucky to go past the opening phase in their events.
Other Filipino bronze medal winners were swimmer Teofilo Yldofonso, the only Filipino to have bag the medal back-to-back in 1928 and 1932, high-jumper Simeon Toribio, also in 1932, and 400-metrer hurdler Miguel White in 1936.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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