POTENTIAL PHL-THAILAND BASKETBALL SHOWDOWN
play, a victory that cemented Pagdanganan’s reputation as this side of the world’s best female golfer who will bring her act in 2020 to the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
With two more days left on the competition schedule and less than half of the gold medals that were staked in this biggest SEA Games ever left to be contested, the Philippines is in a position to repeat the “Miracle of 2005,” when the country, as host, emerged overall champion in term of gold medals won.
Indonesia, despite making is own stride, ran second on Sunday with 65 gold, 61 silver and 77 bronze medals, with Vietnam a close third with 61-58-75 (gold-silver-bronze), followed by Thailand (55-73-73) and Singapore (43-33-48).
Malaysia stood outside the magic five with 40-37-50. The rest of the SEA Games countries were way below the tally board—Myan mar was seventh with 3-16-37, Cambodia eighth with 2-4-21, Brunei Darussalam ninth with 1-5-6 and Lao PDR 10th with 0-5-17. Timor Leste has yet to win a medal.
WHILE action continues in various fronts, Team Philippines Chef de Mission William ‘’Butch’’ Ramirez said the Games is proof that it could unite a country amid negativity and differences.
Ramirez said the sense of patriotism among the Filipinos was awakened by the SEA Games.
“Filipinos from all walks of life passionately cheered the nationals win or loss,” Ramirez said.
THE MIRACLE of 2005 is within grasp but there’s more than scooping the gold medals for the Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
While action continues in various fronts, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman and Team Philippines Chef de Mission William ‘’Butch’’ Ramirez said the biennial Games also showed what unity can do to a country, being burdened by negativity and various differences.
Ramirez, also the chef de mission, when the Philippines took the overall title in 2005, said the sense of patriotism among the Filipinos was awakened by the SEA Games.
“Filipinos from all walks of life passionately cheered the nationals win or loss,” Ramirez said. “The cheering, of course, was heard around the archipelago, especially if a Filipino bet wins the coveted gold.“
“More than the medal haul, I am thankful for all the sacrifice and hard work that went behind pushing their chances for a shining moment of
“The cheering, of course, was heard round the archipelago, especially if a Filipino bet wins the coveted gold.“
“More than the medal haul, I am thankful for all the sacrifice and hard work that went behind pushing their chances for a shining moment of victory,” he said.
“However, I mean to train the light on the stories beyond these victories. The stories that teach us all lessons, as a sporting community, as a people and as a nation,’’ he added.
THE Blu Girls hit another one out of the ballpark, but the Blu Boys got stranded with a silver medal at The Villages in Clark.
The Blu Girls picked up their 10th SEA Games gold via a sweep to extend their unbeaten run in the biennial meet. They routed Indonesia, 8-0, in the final.
“Of all the softball titles by the Blu Girls, this is the easiest and the sweetest,”Team Manager Randy Dizer said. “It’s because we played in our home court, that’s the biggest thing.”
The Blu Girls were powered by Cheska Altomonte, Garie Blando, Mary Ann Antoleh Hao, Ezra Jalandoni, Lyka Basa and Kikay Palma, among others.
They won SEA Games golds in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1997, 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2015.
But the Blu Boys suffered a shocking 6-1 loss to Singapore in the men’s final.
It marked the first time that the Philippines victory,” he said.
“However, I mean to train the light on the stories beyond these victories. The stories that teach us all lessons, as a sporting community, as a people and as a nation,’’ he added.
The Philippines is the runaway leader in the medal tally with a total of 221 medals (as of Saturday), 89 of which are gold medals. Indonesia with 50 golds and Vietnam with 45 golds are battling it out for second place.
Under Ramirez, the PSC continues to focus on the grassroots but the agency’s heartfelt support to the athletes has resulted to a robust delegation bursting with pride, talent and dedication as can be gleaned by the results.
‘‘Having the privilege of being both the PSC chairman and the chef de mission, I am witness to the many beautiful stories behind this event, and given a glimpse into the legacies that the SEAG will leave,” he said. “The gains from this event does not end when the curtains comes down on the 30th SEAG lost the men’s crown since the 1997 edition when the country bowed to Indonesia.
THE Philippines swept its way to the baseball crown, blasting Thailand, 15-2.
The Filipinos unleashed their full force against the hapless Thais, scoring on each of the first seven innings to win the gold medal in eight innings.
Team Manager Orlando Binarao credited the win to their vaunted offense.
“The boys played very inspired baseball today,” said Binarao after the victory at The Villages.
Indonesia routed Singapore, 10-4, to clinch bronze medal.
RIO DE JANEIRO Olympian and one of the athletics team’s best medal hope, Eric Cray, was disqualified from the men’s 100 meters on Sunday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.
The 31-year-old Cray was called for two false starts in Heat 1 of the century dash in the morning session of the centerpiece athletics event.
To his dismay, Cray was left watching from the sidelines as Ruttanapon Sowan of Thailand topped the heat at 10.34 seconds.
The record holder of the 100 with 10:25 seconds he set in 2015 in Singapore, Cray could redeem himself in the 400-m hurdles, his pet event, on Tuesday. edition. On top of the victories, there are many long-term advantages—legacies—the SEAG gifted us with.”
He added that after the SEA Games, the country will have the wide pool of new athletes eyeing to become the next Watanabe, Didal, Obiena, Yulo, Diaz, and other world-class Filipino athletes.
He also praised the volunteers for their efforts.
“Sports instills values like discipline, dedication and respect for others—values needed for a healthier society—a mandate of the PSC,”he said.
“It awakened the bayanihan spirit and volunteerism among us. The very spirit shown by the heroism of Roger Casugay who gave up his chance for a golden finish to save an opponent at risk of losing his life to the very waves they play in. Truly a class act. A solid show of Filipino spirit.’’
Ramirez did not mention that in a true display of camaraderie, Filipino sports fans are also united in cheering that Timor-Leste will not go home empty-handed.
ROY DOMINGO