Sports Eye
Shame in our local sports
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
I WAS shocked to learn that our Region 1 Athletic Association contingent majority of which were Pangasinenses (being the champion of this year’s Region 1 Athletic Association Meet), placed 17th and last in the just concluded 2015 Palarong Pambansa held in Tagum, Davao del Norte. What a shame.
We only bagged two gold, four silver and 25 bronze medals and were even beaten by small regions like Caraga and Zamboanga. That’s another shame, knowing that Pangasinan is the third largest populated province in the country (next to Cebu and Cavite) and therefore, we should have an abundance in potentially strong athletes. Without a doubt, this clearly shows that there’s really something wrong big time in DepEd sports development program here. Your guess is as good as mine.
And it should be pointed out that the disaster was not the fault of our provincial or regional governments because their only task is to financially assist our DepEd’s delegation to the Palaro, and yes, to oversee the performances of our athletes. The training and coaching are not in the hands of the provincial officials but the responsibility of the DepEd designated officials, and this counts a lot. No one to blame but DepEd officials here. I think this was the first time it happened to our region since the birth of Palaro in 1948. We placed 13th in 2013 and slightly improved last year landing 11th and was supposed to improve this year instead placed LAST in a field of 17. It’s nauseating and embarrassing. Except in cycling, chess and basketball, we never discovered any national champion in Palaro after hurdler Agrifina dela Cruz of Aguilar in the 1970s.
Will we improve next year? Given where we are, there’s no other way but up unless we are already comfortable staying at the cellar.
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My heartfelt congratulations to my goddaughter (wedding) Michelle Domingo Barnachea for winning the two-day Tour of Subic (ladies category) held last May 9-10. Michelle, 22, formerly from San Carlos City is the beloved spouse of the only four-time national Tour champion Santy Barnachea of Umingan and the sister of Tour veteran Enrique Domingo. Keep up the good work Michelle and I believe you’ll succeed and shine in your new chosen sports career like your husband did. With your experienced husband, who is always there to guide you, you can win any national and local bike event.
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The talk in sports today is the Western and Eastern Conference NBA final. There were three teams in the state of California namely the Golden State Warriors of San Francisco, Clippers and Lakers both from Los Angeles and also three in the big state of Texas: the dethroned champions Spurs of San Antonio, Mavericks of Dallas and Rockets of Houston. Luckily one team each of the two big states of America are fighting it out now for the Western Conference finals. As of this writing (May 21), the 1956 and 1975 NBA champion Warriors scored the first victory in their best-of-seven series against the 1994-1995 champion Rockets, 110-106, last Wednesday. In the Eastern Conference, it was the Lebron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers that stole the home-court advantage over the Conference champions Atlanta Hawks, 97-89, last Thursday in their first game of best-of-seven series. My fearless forecast says a Warriors-Cavaliers tussle is in the offing in this year’s NBA finals. Hopefully I’m not wrong this time.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. ISAIAH 40: 29-31
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