Saviors behind the scenes

MANILA, Philippines — All we see is the tip of the iceberg. We see the athlete in the stadium spotlight, at the zenith of human perfection, physically and mentally superior in so many ways, ready to beat the world. But there is so much more to the story. Behind the scenes, there is at least a platoon of coaches, trainers, psychologists, physical therapists, nutritionists and others in a highly-professional support system addressing the athlete’s every need.

Randolph Molo, MD, FPOA is the head of the medical unit of the Philippine Sports Commission’s MSAS or Medical Scientific Athletes Services. For more than 15 years, he has been part of the team behind Team Philippines. This trailblazing position, curiously enough, has been Doc Randy’s dream job since his youth. It was the wish he put in his high school yearbook, to be a sports doctor. And when he was formally recruited by Dr. George Canlas around 2005 or so, everything fell into place.

“It’s very fulfilling,” Molo admits. “Especially when the Philippine flag is raised and you hear the national anthem being played, we’re glad to be part of the team behind the scenes.”

The good doctor has such a rich list of indelible memories, it’s hard for him to pick highlights. But among the most striking for him are the 2005 SEA Games held in the Philippines, treating Elma Muros’ injury, the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, and of course, being part of the rise of Gilas Pilipinas in the Jones Cup and the FIBA Olympic qualifiers,

“When our athletes compete abroad, sometimes we become mentors to them,” Molo reveals. “They need someone to talk to. The pressure is all on them.”

Because of the pandemic, the PSC MSAS team has been working harder to keep Philippine national athletes in shape, both inside and out. Rehab work goes on virtually, sports psychologists reach out to the athletes daily to make sure they are coping mentally with isolation and other stresses. Nutritionists assist athletes in making weight for Olympic and SEA Games qualifiers. They don’t need the fanfare, but do appreciate the occasional acknowledgement or shoutout from the athletes themselves. They are, after all, the saviors behind the scenes.