Ramirez tells Yulo: Don’t worry
Creamline finds hero in Domingo
TOKYO– Losing happens even to the best.
This was the message of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez to Filipino athletes, who suffered heartbreaking setbacks during the first full day of competitions of the Summer Olympic Games last Saturday.
Taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa and Fil-American swimmer Remedy Rule were eliminated right on the first day of competition, while world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, one of the country’s brightest hopes for a gold medal in these Games, failed to advance to the finals of his favorite event – the men’s floor exercise – but made it to the finals in the vault.
“Nagulat nga po ako (vault),” Yulo said. “Hindi ko po alam na nakapasok ako.”
Yulo has not reached the finals of the vault in any major tournament until now, but promised to make the most of the opportunity.
But to land a medal, Yulo said he may need to get to the 15 level, which he said will entail sticking both his landings in the finals.
“Malabo po. Marami pong magaling,” he said when asked about his medal chances. Still, the PSC chief there’s no need to worry.
“Si Caloy, first-time sa Olympics. I got to
Games today (PCV Socio-Civic & Cultural Center)
3 p.m. – Perlas vs Chery Tiggo 6 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Black Mamba Army BACARRA, Ilocos Norte – Backup middle blocker Celine Domingo came through in the absence of an injured Jeanette Panaga as Creamline steamrolled PLDT Home Fibr, 25-16, 25-12, 25-13, yesterday to remain unbeaten and at the helm in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference at the PCV SocioCivic & Cultural Center here.
Domingo responded to the call and filled in effectively for Panaga, who sprained her right ankle late in the Cool Smashers’ come-frombehind 20-25, 25-15, 25-27, 25-19, 1513 win over the Black Mamba Army Lady Troopers last Thursday.
Thanks to the 21-year-old former FEU star and skipper Alyssa Valdez’ match-best 16 points, the Cool Smashers have fortified their hold of the top spot with a pristine 4-0 (winloss) record. The Home Fibr Hitters fell to 0-4. “Ever since ready naman talaga ako kung tatawagin ako ni coach Sherwin,” said Domingo, referring to Sherwin Meneses, Creamline coach Tai Bundit’s assistant. “Ready ako mag-contribute so kanina ang mindset ko, same pa rin, to do my role and everything will follow,” she added.
Domingo, who also delivered six points and a block, is expected to get more playing time as Panaga will be sidelined for seven to 10 days. talk to him before his vault competition. Sabi ko sa kanya na ‘wag siya masyadong mag-worry kasi it really happens,” said Ramirez, citing Japanese legend and two-time Olympic champion “King Kohei” Uchimura, who fell off the horizontal bar and failed to advance during the men’s gymnastics qualifying round on Saturday.
“Kahit ‘yung Japanese two-time world champion, natalo, nahulog sa bar,” Ramirez said.
The PSC chief said pressure from the Filipino public and high expectations that stemmed from the Philippines’ 97-year-old gold medal drought in the Olympics proved simply too much for the Filipino Olympians to handle.
“Medyo frustrating because we are expecting the elusive gold since 1924,” said Ramirez.
The journey to Olympic glory doesn’t happen overnight, the PSC chief says.
“Naawa ako sa bata (Yulo) dahil he was pressured. Nakita ko na umupo siya sa ibaba. I would imagine as an athlete ‘yung frustration ng bata, but Caloy should not worry because he has Paris Olympics to look forward to,” said Ramirez, who also made an example of Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who took three Olympics (Beijing, London, Rio) before clinching a medal.
“You’re very lucky kung unang pasok mo panalo ka,” said Ramirez. different.
They weren’t. Going back to the World Cup in China two years ago, the Americans are 3-5 in their last eight games with NBA players in the lineup.
The loss doesn’t knock the U.S. out of medal contention, but it essentially eliminates the margin for error. The Americans play Iran on Wednesday and then the Czech Republic on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a Japanese skateboarder claimed a piece of Olympic history as the host nation enjoyed a gold rush on a day of upsets at the Tokyo Games on Sunday.
The second full day of competition saw 18 gold medals up for grabs, including the first ever in skateboarding, one of several new sports introduced in Tokyo as part of an International Olympic Committee drive to attract younger fans.
A perfectly scripted final saw Japanese world champion Yuto Horigome strike gold in a tense street competition.
Horigome’s victory was one of four golds snaffled by Japan on Sunday.
The haul included a remarkable judo double, with brother and sister Uta and Hifumi Abe both winning Olympic titles within an hour of each other.
Uta Abe was first to strike gold in the women’s under-52kg category, beating Amandine Buchard of France in the final. She then cheered on as her big brother Hifumi overpowered Georgian judoka Vazha Margvelashvili in the under-66kg gold medal fight.
Earlier, unheralded swimmer Yui Ohashi had sparked the Japan gold spree in an action-packed morning finals session at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.
Ohashi powered to victory in the women’s 400 individual medley, toppling Hungary’s defending champion Katinka Hosszu.
Ohashi’s win was upstaged however by Tunisian teenager Ahmed Hafnaoui, who pulled off a massive shock in the men’s 400m freestyle to take gold.
The 18-year-old had only qualified eighth-fastest for the final but produced a devastating late burst to win in three minutes 43.36 seconds, overhauling Australian Jack McLoughlin, who took silver.