By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
SEEING how the whole setup worked for him in the recently concluded 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he won his second straight gold medal in men’s triathlon, Nikko Huelgas said he supports private sector involvement in sports development in the country in partnership with the various sporting organizations.
One of the athletes supported by roasted food chain Chooks-to-Go, along with the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team, Mr. Huelgas said the support he got from Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI), the parent firm of Chooks-to-Go, went a long way in his bagging his second gold medal in the biennial regional sporting meet.
Mr. Huelgas highlighted a one-two finish for the Philippines in the multisport endurance event with teammate John Chicano finishing second.
Twenty-six-year-old Huelgas, who was a champion swimmer at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines while with De La Salle University, topped his event with a time of one hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, an improvement from his 2:04:32 in 2015 in the Singapore Games.
Mr. Chicano took the silver medal with a time of 2:03:24.
The gold of Mr. Huelgas was part of the 24 top hardware that the Philippines hauled in this year’s edition of the Games, and one of the firsts that the country won in the competition.
“Surely I wouldn’t have won the gold without the support of Chooks-to-Go. I mean, maybe nobody noticed it but months leading up to the SEA Games, before I flew in to Malaysia, I was already being supported by Chooks-to-Go, including through daily supply of its roasted chicken and liempo (pork belly). And it was a big factor. Food is expensive and for a national athlete that does not earn too much, a little bit of help goes a long way,” said Mr. Huelgas when asked by BusinessWorld, on the sidelines of their homecoming press conference hosted by the food chain last week, for his thoughts on the support he got from Chooks-to-Go.
He went on to say that he believes that such a setup works two ways.
“And with me winning the gold, it’s a permanent legacy for Chooks-to-Go. That they helped someone along the way to win the gold medal,” Mr. Huelgas said.
Mr. Huelgas said further that given his experience, the involvement of the private sector is something “ideal” provided terms are properly sorted out and discussed.
“Based on my experience, the whole private sector sponsorship system is the right system for Philippine sports. It’s a formula that I believe would work provided handled the right way not only for me but also the Philippine triathlon team and other athletes. Another good example of it is marathoner Mary Joy Tabal, who funded her own training with support from the private sector and won the gold medal,” he said.
On the part of Chooks-to-Go, their support of Mr. Huelgas is something it takes pride in.
“We saw the potential of Nikko and we are very happy with his performance and for winning the gold medal,” said Ronald Mascariñas, BAVI president, in a separate interview.
“Our concentration right now is basketball and triathlon with Nikko. But we are willing to listen to any proposal and as long as it is not beyond our means and capacity, who knows, maybe,” said the BAVI president when asked if they are willing to support other athletes and sports as well.
