QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Kung mayroon mang Local Government Unit na dapat tularan ng iba, ito ay ang Quezon City na pinamumunuan ni Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Solidong suporta ang ibinigay ng Mayora sa programa ng national jiu-jitsu team na nag-ambag ng limang gintong medalya sa pagkopo ng Pilipinas sa overall championship ng katatapos na 30th Southeast Asian Games.
“If you have the support of the LGUs like what we have in Quezon City, I’m sure you will win medals in your sport not just in jiu-jitsu,” sabi ni Carlo Angelo Pena, naghari sa men’s 56-kilogram para sa unang gold medal ng bansa sa jiu-jitsu event ng 2019 SEA Games.
Miyembro si Pena ng Atos Philippines, isang Brazilian jiu-jitsu organization na sinusuportahan ni Belmonte.
Inangkin ng mga Pinoy bets ang overall title ng jiu-jitsu competition ng biennial event matapos magpatumba ng limang ginto, tatlong pilak at tatlong tansong medalya kasunod ang Thailand (2-2-6) at Singapore (2-1-4).
“It was such an experience that I cannot forget. It was so special like the timing of everything really falling into place, our preparation, the hype,” wika ni Pena, tinalo si Rengga Richard ng Indonesia sa gold medal round.
Maliban kay Pena, ang iba pang nagbulsa ng gold medal sa kanilang mga dibisyon ay sina world champion Margarita ‘Maggie’ Ochoa (women’s 45kg), Annie Ramirez (women’s 55kg), Dean Michael Roxas (men’s 85kg) at Adrian Guggenheim (men’s 77kg).
“I honestly think that the sport has a lot of potential to produce medals,” wika ni Roxas. “The Filipino can definitely excel in this sport.”
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na isinama ang jiu-jitsu competition sa calendar of events ng SEA Games.
Noong 2018 Asian Games na idinaos sa Indonesia ay nakapag-uwi si Ochoa ng isang bronze medal sa nilahukang women’s 45kg.