BANGKOK — Team Philippines may have fallen short of surpassing its previous medal haul and even came just three golds shy of landing on the target fifth place finish, but the PH sports top brass found fulfillment in the Filipino athletes winning the sports that mattered most.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio highlighted that the country won the golds that matter – the men’s and women’s basketball golds and the momentous first ever title in women’s football.
“I think you will share with all of me the assessment and the 112 million Filipinos will agree that we won the golds in sports that matter most,” said Gregorio after the Gilas victory brought Team PH medal haul to 50 golds, 73 silvers and 153 bronzes.
It was good for the sixth spot, finishing behind Singapore, which collected 52 golds, 61 silvers and 87 bronzes, at the fifth spot, and Malaysia with 56 golds, 57 silvers and 117 bronzes.
Expectedly, Thailand grabbed the most golds with 232 golds, 154 silvers and 108 bronzes – a number that didn’t really bother Gregorio since the rules, eligibility and the sports choices all favored the host team.
“Football. Basketball.And all the other sports. In sports that matter most. Especially to Thailand. We won in the sports that matter most,” said Gregorio
“Congratulations, Thailand. For winning number one. But tayo, yung gusto natin manalo na sa events na gusto natin mapanalo. At yung mga ginto na nanalo tayo na hindi natin akalain na mananalo tayo, tayo pa rin ang nanalo, like football. So, we won in sports that matter most,” he added.
Though often overlooked in the medal standings, Gregorio also pointed out the number of bronze medals the country had as, according to him, reflected the impact of the decision to bring in a 1,600-strong delegation – most of it young athletes that needed international experience to flourish.
Some even went as far as winning the gold with young middle-distance runners Naomi Cesar and Hussein Loran bagging the top mint along with 11-year-old skateboarders Mazel Alegado and Elizabeth Amador finishing 1-2.
“We are the number one country in terms of bronze medals. What does that mean? Yun yung grassroots. That is the future of Philippine sports, tama yung desisyon na i-expose sila sa ganito,” he added.
