Ups and downs in 2016 PH sports

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

THE year 2016 was not so bright for Philippine sports. The only shining star was our female weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz who saved the face of our Philippine contingent by narrowly winning a silver medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics to the delight of our countrymen, and this writer.  After 20 years of medal drought in Olympic Games, the three-time Olympian Diaz from Zamboanga City was our first ever medalist in weightlifting in the summer games that both stunned and amused our sports leaders and enthusiasts. We failed anew in boxing that gave us the highest honor (silver medal) in the quadrennial meet by the late Anthony Villanueva in 1964 Tokyo Olympics and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco in 1996 Atlanta Games. We failed in the Rio Games, in 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London. Our veteran amateur pugilists Charlie Suarez and Rogen Ladon both lost their first assignments to the dismay of our countrymen especially our sports bosses.

But it was in professional boxing where we had more ups than downs last year. Our national treasure Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao regained the WBO (World Boxing Organization) welterweight crown over Jessie Vargas of Mexico last October 15. Other who shone were Milan Melindo who took  the interim (International Boxing Federation) IBF light flyweight title over Thai Fahlan Sakkreerin on November 26; Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who relinquished his WBO light flyweight diadem to climb one rank heavier (flyweight) and  defeated former world champ Edgar Sosa of Mexico in the flyweight division on September 25; John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero defeated Englishman Charlie Edwards on September 10 to retain his IBF world flyweight title; Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas wresting the IBF super flyweight crown over Puerto Rico’s McJoe Arroyo on September 3; Marlon “The Nightmare” Tapales seized the WBO bantamweight tiara from Thai Pungluang Sor Singyu on July 17 and female boxer Gretchen Abaniel captured the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) minimum weight belt over Saowaluk Nareepangsri of Thailand on July 2. Abaniel is also the minimum weight champion of the Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF).

The well-known Pinoy boxer who lost out this year was Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr.. He bowed to Mexican Jesse Magdaleno on November 5 for the WBO super bantamweight title fight and to world-ranked contender and previously undefeated Albert “The Prince” Pagara, losing via eight round knockout to Cesar Juarez of Mexico on July 10.

Last year was also bleak for Philippine sports celebrities. The country lost the basketball great Carlos “The Big Difference” Loyzaga, basketball winningest coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan, baseball superstar Filomeno “Boy” Cordinera, shooting king Mariano “Tom” Ong, Dagupan City son-in-law sportswriter Hermie Rivera, boxing broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz and radio sports commentator Benjie Castro.

Hopefully 2017 will be a prosperous year for PH sports. Despite being skeptical about how our sports leaders run our sports development, hopefully our PH athletes will surpass our disappointing sixth place finish (2015) in the coming biennial meet Southeast Asia Games on August 19-31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Siya nawa.

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My deepest condolence to the family of Mangaldan cager Alvin de Vera for the untimely demise of their loved-one and the family’s breadwinner. The humble Alvin, who was one of the mainstays of my son’s team Jazy Sportswear died in a motorcycle accident evening of January 2. May he take the peaceful rest with the good Lord. His relatives, friends and basketball contemporaries will surely miss him.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites. 1 CORINTHIANS 6: 9

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