Pilipinas Sports: Good and Bad News

PHILIPPINE sports started off the new year with a pair of good deeds, and not so good at all.

At first, the country will kick-off 2025 with a glimmer of hope as it plan to send 20 athletes to the ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games slated next month (Feb. 7-14) in Harbin, China, Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino, who believed that Harbin Games participation will set the stage for the country’ s hunt for the first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal. Telentino is also confident that this can be done, since we have already accomplished the gold medal dream in the last two Summer Olympics under his watch.

The Philippines, though we have no winter or snow on the mountain top, was the first tropical country and South East Asian nation to participate in the Winter Olympics, In fact, the country send two skiers when it debuted in Japan during 1972 Sapporo Winter Games. And since then on, the country had participated in all the Winter Olympics.

I may agree, that the good Congressman from Tagaytay from the time he assumed the post as POC head eight years ago. He revitalized and given the country’s sports an all out support and full backing as he worked hand in hand with Philippine Sports Commission in achieving the gold medal dream.

The second part of the good news, are triumphs of Filipina squad, which touch-off the brand new year, the Philippine Lacrosse team, booked a ticket to the World Lacrosse Championship, by beating China 15-3, And the said world tourney is also to be hosted by China.

Amazing, I myself never though that we have a Lacrosse team or a National Sports Association (NOC) of this kind. I wish somebody would explain or enlighten of me about the sport of Lacrosse. Anyone?

Now comes, the sad news. I hate this part. A young and promising athlete, who had dedicated his life to bring honors to the country, only to meet a violent death following a drinking spree in Guarte, a champion in Obstacle Sport Racing (OSR), was stabbed to death by still unknown assailant, while on his sleep.

Gaurte, was part of the gold medal winning team during 2023 South East Asian Games in Cambodia and a silver medalist in the track event in the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia. It was a big lost for national team and to the country. Tolentino had reached out to the proper authorities, specially the police, as he sought the speedy investigation of the crime.

From one sad news to another, this time, Our only NBA hopeful, Kai Sotto, sustained an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury during his team the Koshigawa Alhpas versus Mikawa Bears contest, where he badly twisted his left leg that halted the games has to rush him to the nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Due to his injury, physicians who have checked and diagnosed his condition recommended to undergo medical treatment, worst, surgery or operation . And had to take six to eight month rest and recovery period. This mean, he will miss the FIBA Asia Cup third window preparation wherein the New Zealand Tall Blacks, are eking to have a rematch with Gilas-Pilipinas in their homecourt ai the Auckland Arena.

Gilas’ 93-89 win over its’ previous tormentor as the first one in four years and sent a Kiwi brought his frustration to his social media account and later on were met by a server online bashing from fans and supporters of Gilas before the said crying Kiwi take down his post.

A case of infidelity and domestic abuses as two-time Olympian and Tokyo Games boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, was accused and charged by wife of cheating on her. She caught him in the house of his other woman. Well, infidelity is not anymore our business, but abuse, though it come in the form of hurting someone physically or mentally. I believed is a crime nowadays.

I hope Eumir and wife would resolve their differences among themselves and patch-up everything for the sake of their children’s future, save their marriage and his boxing career.