Give And Go
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
August 2017 is definitely one great stretch to be a Filipino sports fan with many events to immerse in and cheer for our athletes.
You have the ongoing FIBA Asia Cup 2017 happening in Beirut, Lebanon, where Gilas Pilipinas is actually doing well, and the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship currently ongoing right here at our own backyard and where Team Philippines is also making things happen.
Last week in football, Ceres-Negros FC ruled Southeast Asian club football when it won the AFC ASEAN Zonal final over Singapore’s Home United FC, 3-2, on aggregate to advance to the next round of the region’s secondary club football tournament.
These are apart from the ongoing local competitions in various leagues for basketball, both pros and amateurs, volleyball and football.
And later this week, sports fever in the country should only boil some more as our athletes see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Happening from Aug. 19-30, the Philippines will be sending 490 athletes to compete in 37 events out of a possible 38 in the biennial regional sporting meet.
Local officials said Team Philippines is aiming to do good in KL and angling to haul at least 50 gold medals.
Whether such goals are to be met remains to be seen but just the same, this space believes every Filipino sports fan should be invested in following the exploits of our athletes in Malaysia for I am pretty sure seeing them compete for flag and country will be worth one’s while.
The country’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are definitely to be followed for they have much potential to bring home medals for us.
Gilas Pilipinas is parading a different team for the SEA Games from that of the FIBA Asia Cup but the potency of the squad is pretty much the same while Perlas Pilipinas (women’s team) is coming off a skills-building outing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
Our volleyball team, with the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo and Jaja Santiago, should also be eyed for the improvement it has been showing, using the ongoing AVC women’s tournament as gauge. As of this writing, the team is into the quarterfinals and was set to face Thailand.
Boxing is another sport I am high at with what I believe is a strong cast composed of the likes of 2015 SEA Games medalists Eumir Marcial, Ian Clark Bautista and Mario Fernandez and 2016 Rio Olympian Charly Suarez as well as Fiipino-British light-heavyweight fighter John Marvin. The latter will make his maiden tour of duty for the country and based on the short talk I had with him recently he seems to be a solid proposition.
Football has not been kind to us in the SEA Games but I believe our Under-22 team is set to make waves in the tournament owing to the improvements and developments in the local football scene.
Veteran Philippine billiards, athletics and swimming teams should also be followed as well as our taekwondo crew, led by flag-bearer and Olympian Kirstie Elaine Alora.
Our teams on ice — hockey, figure skating and speed skating — which includes Michael Martinez and the wushu team are also worth noting.
Bowling, too, under legend and now national team coach Paeng Nepomuceno may also spring some surprises.
With a packed schedule of sporting events that Filipinos are taking part in right now, there is no reason why we should not rally behind our athletes. We are on the same boat here for Three Stars and the Sun. Mabuhay ang Atletang Pilipino! Laban Pilipinas!
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
