Ailing Lariba fires up Filipino athletes, fuels medal hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Olympian Ian “Yan” Lariba, who was forced to skip the 29th Southeast Asian Games due to acute myeloid leukemia, is in the hearts and minds of her fellow athletes as they do battle in Kuala Lumpur.

Lariba sits this one out as she fights her own battle but her presence is clearly felt in a streamer at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex that serves as rallying point for Team Philippines prior to departure.

“Kaya Mo ‘Yan, Atletang Pilipino” read the streamer splashed with a picture of Lariba drenched in sweat during one of her competitions for Team Philippines.

She was supposed to serve as flag-bearer for tonight’s opening ceremonies.

A close friend of Lariba from their Rio Olympics days, taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora, was tapped to take her place.

“Of course I will be carrying the flag and playing for the country for her (Lariba),” Alora said on the eve of the traditional parade of teams. “Para sa kanya talaga ito (I dedicate this for her).”

Lariba, the first Filipino to qualify for the Olympics, was diagnosed with leukemia last May. Her condition is getting better and she’s expected to undergo bone marrow transplant soon, according to Philippine Table Tennis Federation president Ting Ledesma in a report from ANC’s Game Time.