MANILA, Philippines — Walang iba kundi si Southeast Asian Games surfing champion Roger Casugay ang itinanghal na Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) Athlete of the Month para sa buwan ng Disyembre.
Gumawa ng ingay si Casugay matapos ang kanyang kabayanihan sa SEA Games kamakailan kung saan sinagip nito ang Indonesian rival sa surfing competitions sa Monalisa Point sa San Juan, La Union Province.
“It was truly a class act by Casugay. Like many other outstanding athletes who excelled during the SEA Games in this merry month of December, Casugay made all of us proud to be Filipinos,” ani TOPS president Ed Andaya ng People’s Tonight.
Maliban sa kabayanihan, mas lalong nagningning ang pangalan nito matapos masungkit ang gintong medalya sa men’s longboard category nang magtala ito ng 14.50 puntos sa overall round.
Dahil sa kanyang matikas na ipinamalas, nagpasalamat si Indonesian President Joko Widodo sa pagsagip sa Indonesian athlete. Mismong si Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) William “Butch” Ramirez pa ang nagtalaga kay Casugay para maging flag bearer ng Pilipinas sa closing ceremony ng SEAG sa New Clark City Athletics Stadium noong Disyembre 11.
“The SEA Games are not only about medals. It is about character, resilience, love for one another and sho-ring up the faith of the person next to you, something that Casugay has exemplified,” ani Ramirez.