Thursday, June 14, 2007 Incentives eyed for Arafura winners By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebuano athletes who won medals in last May’s Arafura Games will be rewarded justly for their efforts.
While the athletic heads of the University of Cebu (UC) and University of San Carlos (USC) are still considering whether to give incentives to their winning athletes or not, Danao City Sports Commission head Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez is already preparing one for cyclist Niño Surban.
Rodriguez, also a councilor of Danao, has prepared P20,000 for Surban, who won a gold and a bronze medal in different cycling events in the Arafura Games last month in Darwin Australia.
Surban, who was accompanied by coach Jerome Rodriguez, stamped his mark in the Elite Men’s Time Trial, where he took the top finish amidst angry and surprised Australians. He finished with a bronze in the men’s elite road race.
Disbelief
The Australians complained to organizers when Surban was handed the gold medal in the time trial as, according to Jerome, the Aussies could hardly believe that a lanky cyclist like Surban could beat the more seasoned riders.
Meanwhile, UC’s cash windfall for table tennis players Michael Motel and Jay Irebert Impuesto and sprinter Jorge Pinanonang is already in the offing.
The paddlers won a bronze in the men’s doubles, while Pinanonang won a silver medal in the 400 meter hurdles in the athletic event.
Coaches
UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca, however, said they will still need to talk with the RP chef de mission, Fr. Vic Uy, as he will have a hand in determining the amoung for the incentives.
Also set to receive cash rewards are the coaches in the respective events; Jessica Jawad-Honorodez for table tennis; and Dr. Danilo Villadolid, who stood as Pinanonang’s coach during the games.
Uy, on the other hand, said he will be suggest to USC president Fr. Rod Salazar regarding the amount that will be given to their athletes.
USC tennis player Kristel Mae Buenacosa led the team’s carnage, winning two golds and a bronze. Sisters Loren Dale and Lohriz Echavez won medals but were stripped off following disagreements with the local swimming association.
The RP team came up with the best finish by far, placing 11th in a field of 39 countries, with a total medal haul of eight golds, four silvers and 12 bronzes.
The Greater Cebu Sports Organizing Committee, to which the Cebu athletes collectively belonged, carried the bulk of the medal tally. The other medals were won in boxing and golf.
