|
THE
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has
released a P50-million aid to the Philippine Sports
Commission (PSC) for the country’s campaign in the 24th
Southeast Asian Games.
PSC
chairman William Ramirez said the funds will cover the
Team Philippines expenses during the December 6 to 16
meet slated in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima and two
other satellite venues.
 “Makakahinga
na tayo ng kaunti kasi meron tayong pangtustos sa
actual participation natin for the SEA Games,”
said Ramirez.
The
funds will be used for the 801-strong RP delegation’s
airfare, board and lodging and allowances.
The aid
is part of the P100-million assistance Pagcor committed
to the PSC earlier this year. An initial P50 million was
given two months ago for the training and equipment of
athletes.
A total
of 591 Filipino athletes will try to defend the
country’s overall championship in the biennial meet. On
Friday, they had an audience in Malacanang with
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who exhorted them to
give their best.
Ramirez
and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose
Cojuangco Jr. admitted on Friday that host
Thailand
is a formidable opponent, but expressed confidence on
the Filipino athletes’ tenacity to fight the odds.
“We’ll
not going there to surrender the overall championship to
Thailand, but to mightily defend it,” Ramirez declared.
Pressure on Pinoy cagers to wrest gold in
Thailand
FAILURE
would mean a knockout punch to the whole country.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose
“Peping” Cojuangco Jr. delivered this statement to
remind the 24th Southeast Asian Games-bound men’s
basketball team that losing is not an option.
Ironically, he also told the crowd inside the viewing
room of the newly refurbished Basketball Association of
the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP)
office at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City that he
is not pressuring the Nationals at all.
“I hate
giving pressure to our national team. But it’s like
seeing Manny Pacquiao losing in his fight. If Pacquiao
loses, the whole country becomes sad,” said Cojuangco,
who served as keynote speaker in the sendoff party
arranged by the BAP-SBP for the men’s and women’s teams
to the SEA Games.
“The
whole country expects you to win and that’s the problem.
But I know you can win it. The gold medal means so much
for us so do your best,” Cojuangco told the team
members.
The
sendoff was attended by stakeholders of the BAP-SBP,
which finally got a new home at the PhilSports complex
(formerly Ultra), thanks to a P1-million donation from
its president, Manny V. Pangilinan.
Pangilinan echoed Cojuangco’s statement, stressing the
SEA Games is one major step in the country’s return in
international scene.
“As what
Mr. Cojuangco said, failure is not an option, let’s
bring back the gold,” said Pangilinan.
Pangilinan also thanked Harbour Centre of Mikee Romero
for bankrolling the men’s team as well as the Cebuana
Lhuillier and other patrons for supporting the vastly
improved women’s squad.
Although
the men’s team, to be handled by coach Junel Baculi,
looked to have a lock on the gold, the Filipina
dribblers, to be beefed up by Filipino-Americans Vicky
Brick and Melissa Jacob and Filipino-Syrian Amira Issa,
are expecting a rough encounter with host Thailand.
“I know
the women’s team will have a tougher time but I know
they can also make it,” said Cojuangco.
The
women’s squad leaves today for a series of tune-up games
in China while the men’s team will use the rest of the
week to jell with new additions Gabe Norwood, Chris Tiu,
Erick Rodriguez and Al Vergara. |
