Sabaldan: So many things we can thank God for at the start of the year

AS THE song goes in the old Sunday school church of my sports analyst John Philip Sabaldan, "Count your blessings, name them one by one and see what God has done."

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is one and Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte for their enduring loyalty as servant leaders of Davao City.

Top on the list is His Excellency the President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his good health, strength and wisdom. Not only to the President and his Cabinet but to the Senate, Congress, all the men and women of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, our Governors, Mayors and councilors down to the barangay leaders.

If you cannot thank the existence and efforts made by our leaders, then do not thank God at all.

We pray that under the leadership of President Aquino, the Philippines will sustain its upward economic gains through the years, peace, safety and prosperity of our people.

If our economy will continue to be strong, everything follow suit including sports development.

I swear to myself that I will really mention the three first city councilors that I will have a chance meeting with at the start of the year and they are, Councilors Edgar Ibuyan, Conde Baluran and Salvador-Abella.

Special mention goes to Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz for her consistency and proper response to the needs of our people from Toril, Mintal Tugbok to Calinan, upper Carmen to Marilog and all of third district.

The first three athletes that I had a talk with this year are national judo player Paolo Tancontian, Vina Vera Alinas of the UIC volleyball team and Arianna Dequito of Holy Cross of Sasa.

Tancontian, an Olympic judo player, had beaten all his opponents by a landslide in the recent election for NSA president in judo. His group is the only Philippine Olympic Committee-accredited national sports association in the Davao Region.

The first coach that I had a talk with this year even if it is only via cellphone is Coach Roger Gorayeb.

The good news, according to the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles mentor is that his team is back to their fighting elements and still hopeful about capturing their first UAAP championship with Fille Saint Cainglet recuperating from an injury during a highly competitive game against the Lady Spikers of DLSU.

Cainglet was the team captain when the Lady Eagles had their first taste of a championship in the previous women Shakey’s V-League.
Even if it takes time for Cainglet to completely heal her ankle injury, Ateneo is still a force to reckon with in the UAAP Season ’75 with the spiking trio of Valdez, de Jesus and Gervacio.
Good luck to all.

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