SEA Games Champions, Now What's Next?
A consistent performance of Filipino athletes enabled the Philippines to emerge as a legitimate sporting power in the region. With 114 gold medals won, it eventually collected more than a quarter of the events staged. Powered by Fil-foreigners, the country has become a force to reckon with in areas where local-bred talents are comparably weaker to their Thai, Indonesian and Malay counterparts.
Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino delivered, Davaoenos (like me) Sheila Mae Perez, Lee Van Corteza, Zandro and Ceceil Domeinos and Juvic Pagunsan delivered, and every Filipino athlete made their countrymen proud of being a part of this outstanding achievement.
But as Thai boxing coach has forewarned, "See you in Doha" in an apparent reference to let the Philippines continue its vindication over alleged cheating in the Games. Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra was never too tentative to tell the hosts were winning because of hometown tactics.
The Philippines has won the SEA Games title for the first time since it hosted in 1981 and 1991. After the 1981 SEAG, Lydia de Vega became a hit in athletics, and William "Billy" Wilson made waves in swimming during the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. After the 1991 SEAG, we won a solitary bronze medal through Roel Velasco, a follow up to the 1988 bronze medal won by his provincemate Leopoldo Serrantes.
I have been monitoring the SEA Games since 1987 (Jakarta), in my grade school years. In 1991, I remember a Fil-Am named Lee Najera winning gold medal in swimming (he seems overwhelmed by the popularity of Eric Buhain at the time), and Edward Lasquete who ruled pole vault. It is not surprising to see Fil-foreigners Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, Alex Pagulayan, Kashus Perona, Philip James and James Joseph Younghusband, Heidi Ilustre and Chad Mowrey play for the country. It's because the Philippines is the host and they get extra love from the partisan crowd. I hope they come back and represent the country in the next SEA Games where they try to prove Thailand tat cheating is not part of the Filipino winning tradition.
As champions, we do not need to be told to celebrate; we are fond of doing so. But at the same time, let's gear up for the bigger challenges ahead. Doha Asian Games is next year. Beijing Olympics is three years to go. While Thailand and Indonesia have brought gold medals in the Olympics, the Philippines is still trying to catch that elusive one. And once we win golds in Asian Games and Olympics, we can't seem to silence Thaksin from his accusations.
After the celebration, let's get back to work.
Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino delivered, Davaoenos (like me) Sheila Mae Perez, Lee Van Corteza, Zandro and Ceceil Domeinos and Juvic Pagunsan delivered, and every Filipino athlete made their countrymen proud of being a part of this outstanding achievement.
But as Thai boxing coach has forewarned, "See you in Doha" in an apparent reference to let the Philippines continue its vindication over alleged cheating in the Games. Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra was never too tentative to tell the hosts were winning because of hometown tactics.
The Philippines has won the SEA Games title for the first time since it hosted in 1981 and 1991. After the 1981 SEAG, Lydia de Vega became a hit in athletics, and William "Billy" Wilson made waves in swimming during the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. After the 1991 SEAG, we won a solitary bronze medal through Roel Velasco, a follow up to the 1988 bronze medal won by his provincemate Leopoldo Serrantes.
I have been monitoring the SEA Games since 1987 (Jakarta), in my grade school years. In 1991, I remember a Fil-Am named Lee Najera winning gold medal in swimming (he seems overwhelmed by the popularity of Eric Buhain at the time), and Edward Lasquete who ruled pole vault. It is not surprising to see Fil-foreigners Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, Alex Pagulayan, Kashus Perona, Philip James and James Joseph Younghusband, Heidi Ilustre and Chad Mowrey play for the country. It's because the Philippines is the host and they get extra love from the partisan crowd. I hope they come back and represent the country in the next SEA Games where they try to prove Thailand tat cheating is not part of the Filipino winning tradition.
As champions, we do not need to be told to celebrate; we are fond of doing so. But at the same time, let's gear up for the bigger challenges ahead. Doha Asian Games is next year. Beijing Olympics is three years to go. While Thailand and Indonesia have brought gold medals in the Olympics, the Philippines is still trying to catch that elusive one. And once we win golds in Asian Games and Olympics, we can't seem to silence Thaksin from his accusations.
After the celebration, let's get back to work.
posted by Unknown at
12:47 PM
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