Sunday, August 17, 2008 Padilla: Medal hope for Team Philippines By Nars Padilla Sportscope
AS TIME ticks away, the medal hope and aspiration for our country to win a medal or two of any color in the ongoing XXIX World Olympics in Beijing is being blown away by the four winds. Only taekwondo jins Marie Antonette Rivero and Thomslee Go remain on the RP saddle in our quest for the illusive Olympic medals. Boxer Harry Tanamor our top medal hunter was defeated by Cuban trained Manyo Plange of Ghana last Wednesday. It was a big blow for the RP Team which pinned so much confidence and hope on Tanamor. Even the Illustrated Sports magazine, the international boxing bible earlier predicted that Tanamor will settle for the silver medal in the final encounter in his class.
Well, in sports, "the ball is always round! It either triumph or pain for the protagonist!" Better trained and more prepared athletes from other countries just left behind their shadows the Pinoys in shooting, archery, swimming, diving, weightlifting and boxing. Let's see what will happen in athletics (long jump) where Henry Dagmil and Merestella Torres are entered. Of course, all is not yet lost! Our tricksters and taekwondo jins might spell the difference.
As of press time, the Chinese dragons in the games are spewing fire practically in the 29 disciplines in the sports arena. They are out to prove to the world that China has come of age in sports development. And I agree! In just a short span of time, China, which has been dubbed as a sleeping giant for centuries, is now a world power to contain with, not only in sports but likewise in its progressive economy including its unprecedented infrastructure programs. The Beijing game is also showcasing the Peoples Republic of China (PROC) as the cradle of ancient Oriental culture and arts and more importantly a modern global community with advanced state of the art technology. This is China today as I see it.
As of yesterday, China is up the scoreboard with 23 gold medals, eight silvers and five bronzes, a total of 35. The United States powerhouse is far behind with 14-12-18 or a sum of 44. Consider that in the medal race to the top only the gold haul counts except when there is a tie then the silvers come to th3e scenario as a tiebreaker. Of the 14 U.S. gold medals, six come from the record-breaking individual and team performances of Michael Phelps in six swimming events. Two more gold medals are expected to crowd the victorious achievements of the 23-year old American mega-superstar who I would like to call the "Shark," Phelps is the most bemedalled athlete in the history of the Olympic Games. He has at the moment an enviable record collection of 15 gold medals and two more are on the way. What a guy!
Only heaven knows who can par off or break his records. And when.
Three of the best mixed martial arts warriors from our fair city spearheaded by UC wushu coach Mark Sangyao will display their prowess in the URCC (Universal Reality Combat Championship) 14-bout card billed at the New Ynares Center in Manila on August 29.
Sangyao, former bantamweight champion of the Philippines, will take on Lino Tagacay from the Philippine Army in the man event. At stake is the super fight URCC RP national crown. Tagacay was a former member of the RP national boxing training pool while Sangyao aside from being one of the best in the wushu ring in several Southeast Asian Games series in recent years boasts of a URCC credential, dotted with all wins and no loss scorecard.
According to Edward Folayang who will act as the coach for the Baguio team, Joel Amurao will defend his URCC RP national pinweight title against Ari "Tiger" Zarco of Manila, also a veteran prizefighter.
Amurao is the "Pinoy URCC" edition topman in the division. The third man in the cast is George Lusadan who will match skills against Saring Illar a Manilanian, also in the pinweight division. Sangyao who is the only international Pilipino referee-coach in wushu expressed optimism that Team Baguio will bring home added pride and glory after the tournament.
"We trained very hard for the fight. We are ready to rumble," Sangyao said.
Incidentally, Amurao is a graduating office administration student at UC while Lusadan is a political science graduate from the same institution. At this point in time, Sportscope would like to wish the boys good luck! I am confident the trio will shine and glitter on centerstage.
The 2008 Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) will showcase its grand opening day pageantry and games at the University of the Cordilleras (UC) gym on August 23. BBEAL known in the Cordillera as the most colorful sportsfest in the collegiate arena is hosted by the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) headed by Chancellor Dr. Priscilla Macansantos with Dr. Epifania Claur, UPB athletic director as the BBEAL Commissioner. The opening rites scheduled at 9 a.m. will be graced by key City Government officials led by Congressman Mauricio Domogan, guest of honor and speaker and school heads within the BBEAL family.
Cheer and dance demonstration by a select core of participants from several universities in the city and Benguet will add flourish and flavor to the morning program. A series of basketball and volleyball games will kick off the sports offering immediately after the program. Chancellor Macansantos said UPB is honored to host this year's BBEAL especially so that the University of the Philippines is observing its centennial anniversary celebration this year.
