NAGPAHAYAG ng pasasalamat si Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) para sa naging kontribusyon ng military-athletes na ktusyal sa medal finish ng bansa sa katatapos na 31st Southeast Asian Games sa Hanoi, Vietnam.
Sina Olympic champion weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ng Philippine Air Force, trackster Clinton Bautista ng Philippine Navy at boxers Ian Clark Bautista (Navy) at Eumir Marcial (Air Force) ay nagbigay ng gold medals sa kani-kanilang sports.
Kasama rin nila sina muaythai’s Phillip Delarmino ng Philippine Navy at PH women’s basketball players Janine Pontejos at France Mae Cabinbin ng Philippine Army at Marizze Andrea Cabinbin (Navy).
“We thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines for these athletes. The contributions of the AFP proved vital to our success in the SEA Games,’’ sabi ni Ramirez.
Ang Team Philippines ay nag-uwi ng 52 gold, 70 silver at 104 bronze medals at tumapos na fourth overall sa medal standings, ang pinakamagandang pagtatapos ng bansa sa Games sa labas ng Pilipinas magnula nang tumapos second overall sa 1983 edition sa Singapore.
Ang anim na gold medals na nagmula sa naturang soldier-athletes ay nagbigay sa Team Philippines ng sapat na kalamangan sa Singapore, na nakalikom ng 47 gold medals at nagkasya sa fifth overall sa medal tally.
“The AFP has been very supportive, not only in our SEA Games campaign, but every time we carry our flag in international competitions,’’ ani Ramirez, na pinasalamatan din ang iba pa sa 117 enlisted athletes at coaches mula sa tatlong sangay ng military service.
Ang military-athletes ay nagwagi rin ng 11 silver at 16 bronze medals mula sa Hanoi kung saan nanalo sina rowers Cris Nievarez (Army) at Joanie Delgaco (Navy) ng tig-dalawang medalya kasama si WGM Janelle Frayna (Air Force) sa chess.
Ang iba pang silver medalists mula sa AFP ay sina decathlete Aries Toledo, boxer Irish Magno, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo ng chess, Russel Misal ng table tennis, Jeson Patrombon (tennis) at wrestlers Alvin Lobreguito, Ronil Tubog at Jhonny Morte.
Nagwagi rin ng bronze medals sina military-athletes Sonny Wagdos at Jelly Dianne Paralige ng athletics, boxer Riza Pasuit, rowers Roque Abala at Nicanor Jasmin, sepak takraw’s Jason Huerte at Rheyjey Ortouste, beach volleyball’s Alnakran Abdilla, Jovelyn Gonzaga at wrestlers Jason Balabal at Noel Norada. CLYDE MARIANO
