Ramirez: 49 to go for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez is outside looking in as close to 500 Filipino athletes aim to win 50 gold medals in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Ramirez opted to stay behind and focus on his grassroots projects, and let the Philippine Olympic Committee run the show in the Malaysian capital.

Yesterday, however, Ramirez welcomed the news that Mary Joy Tabal, the female marathoner who almost did not make the team to the SEA Games, delivered the first gold medal for the Philippines.

“We’re happy in the board because for the past few days we’re happy of (winning) the silver and bronze. Sabi ko, ‘Ang tagal naman ng gold na yan. (I said, What’s taking that gold medal?),’” Ramirez said yesterday.

“Until this morning I was informed that we won, and I said, ‘Wow! That’s good,’” he said from Davao City where he’s attending to the PSC-sponsored Children’s Games.

Ramirez said he texted President Duterte that Tabal, who hails from Cebu City, had given the country its first gold in this SEA Games.

The SEA Games formally kicked off yesterday, and the Philippines has a long way to go in trying to achieve its forecast of 50 gold medals and hopes of improving its sixth-place finish in Singapore in 2015.

“But we are worried of the number of medals that we’re gong to win. I hope it will break (ice-breaker) in our hope of more gold medals along the way,” said Ramirez, perhaps the first PSC chairman to skip the SEA Games overseas.

“Forty-nine to go,” he said.

“But whatever our medal standing is, while it matters, what should inspire our athletes is to just give their best for the country – whether it’s 50, 100 or 35 (gold medals),” Ramirez said.

“I’m very happy with the first gold medal of Tabal,” said Ramirez, who had tried to settle the feud between sports officials who had contested Tabal’s inclusion to the SEA Games lineup.

He was happy to see athletics chief Philip Ella Juico, who has had some differences with Tabal months before the Games, celebrate the victory with the veteran of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I saw the picture. They were embracing. That’s good for the country,” said Ramirez.