Christmas sports wishes

In less than week we will be celebrating Christmas; a time to be merry and excited with family and friends and to reflect on life.
Wishes also abound during this time of the year, which this writer would not let pass without sharing his.
Among this space’s Christmas sporting wishes is for Gilas Pilipinas to make it to consecutive FIBA Basketball World Cup appearances.
As we all know, the Philippine men’s national basketball team has gone through a lot in 2018 — from an infamous brawl to suspensions to personnel changes to tough losses.
It remains to be seen if we get to book a spot in the 2019 World Cup in follow-up to the Philippines’ 2014 stint in the tournament, but Gilas is still in the running and could advance if it plays the cards it has been dealt with well in the next window of the qualifiers.
I am sure this is not only my wish but also that of any basketball-loving Filipino, who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of the team in the last decade.
Another is for the local football scene to be vibrant anew.
The Philippine Azkals made noise of late with a spirited run in the AFF Suzuki Cup that saw them advance to the semifinals after failing to get past the group stage of the tournament in 2016.
Their new coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has many excited of the promise of the team moving forward which is well and good for the nationals.
The young Philippines Football League had its solid moments this year but recently received bad news that one of the teams competing in the league, Davao Aguilas FC, had decided to cease from playing in the PFL, following other teams which have left previously.
But the league has reportedly been rebranded as the Philippine Premier League and proponents of it affirmed their commitment to help the league, and the sport in general, grow, which is something football fans in the land are holding on to.
I also wish football stakeholders here, particularly the fans, would really do their part in supporting the local football league.
Enough of pitying on how football is being “left out” in a basketball country, albeit I encourage them to continue calling out officials when they see something wrong to keep these regulators on their toes.
The fans should go out there in the venues and support their teams to help raise the appeal of football among owners and potential sponsors.
The Philippines will host the Southeast Asian Games in 2019, an event I wish to be a rousing success.
Previously the government contemplated backing out from, but it is seemingly all systems go now less than year before it officially happens.
Venues are being built for it while some are being renovated and readied to be at par with the standards.
Officials are touting it to be a big one in more ways than one, with 56 sporting events, and are leaving no stone unturned in the preparation.
If we pull this off accordingly, the better it is for the country both from a sports and non-sports perspective.
And, yes, I am hoping we get the overall championship.
Being a product of the University of the Philippines, another wish of mine is for the Fighting Maroons to win another title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
We had a good run in Season 81, making it all the way to the finals before bowing to Ateneo de Manila University.
Nonetheless, it was a special season for UP basketball that had the entire community coming together to support it.
Looking forward to a breakthrough year in Season 82, with added fire power, and ending a three-decade championship drought.
Lastly is for Filipino combat sports athletes to continue flourishing next year.
Boxing great Manny Pacquiao became champion anew in 2018 while Jerwin Ancajas continued with his ascent.
Mixed martial arts fighters Eduard Folayang, Geje Eustaquio, Kevin Belingon, Joshua Pacio, and Stephen Loman are all champions, too, in various organizations while Filipinos athletes in jiu-jitsu, wrestling, wushu and other martial arts have done well as well.
Combat sports are seemingly good and fit the Filipinos and here is hoping more of our countrymen join the champion ranks and succeed.
Merry Christmas, dear readers! And may all our wishes come true.
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com