Bachmann salutes Filipino athletes

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann was all praises for Filipino athletes who fought tooth and nail to keep the country’s colors afloat in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

“I am proud of our athletes,” Bachmann said yesterday. “I saw how they worked hard – with my own eyes – while preparing for the Games and when they did battle in Cambodia.”

“Each moment our flag was raised in honor of a win was a proud moment for every Filipino,” he said.

Only in his fourth month as chairman of the PSC, Bachmann saw first-hand how Filipino athletes train and compete in international competitions as he visited different training sessions of national teams in his first few weeks of office.

The SEA Games is the first international competition under his watch and he made sure he had his eyes on each and every athlete in the Games that will officially come to a close today.

Bachmann flew in three days before the opening ceremony and made the rounds – as many as he’s permitted to by the hectic schedule and at times heavy Phnom Penh traffic.

The Philippines, which tried very hard to repeat its fourth-place finish in Vietnam last year, surpassed the 50-gold medal barrier as early as Monday night.

Bachmann vouched for the PSC’s full support to Team Philippines’ campaign in future international competitions.

“We reaffirm our support to our national athletes,” he said. “The PSC will continue to work as hard as you train. Salamat sa lahat ng inyong sakripisyo!”