MVP cites sports’ unifying power

MANILA, Philippines — SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan hailed the Philippines’ return to the top of Asian basketball as “a supreme and unifying moment” as he recalled Gilas’ victory in Hangzhou last year during his remarks in accepting the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s Executive of the Year award with San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang as co-recipient at the SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night in the Manila Diamond Hotel last Monday.

MVP was initially honored with the same award in 2014 while RSA received it in 2018 but in recognition of their collaboration to crown the Philippines as King of Asia after a 61-year wait and to put the country on the world map as host of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, they were jointly acclaimed by PSA.

MVP said the award traces back to the people because “ultimately, it belongs to them.” He added: “We support sports because it has a mysterious unifying power, whose roots can be deeply spiritual (as) sports celebrates values such as fair play, discipline and hard work … ask any of our athletes, ask them what it feels like to walk into a stadium in Eastern Europe or West Africa and hear cheers in the language of our people.”

Emerson and Jeanette Obiena, representing PSA Athlete of the Year son EJ, pose with PSA president Nelson Beltran, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann and Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino. Right photo shows June Mar Fajardo and coach Tim Cone with the Gilas team management – PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas, SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua and PBA commissioner Willie Marcial – and SBP president Al Panlilio being feted with the PSA President’s Award. With Beltran as trophy presentor is Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. president Rafael Jasper Vicencio.

Jun Mendoza

Drawing inspiration from Gilas, MVP said no matter where the players come from, the Filipino identity is coalesced into a single team. “Just watching Gilas, realizing where they’re from, is inspiring,” he said. “June Mar Fajardo and Calvin Oftana are from Cebu, Scottie Thompson is from Davao del Sur, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Newsome are from California, Japeth Aguilar is from Pampanga and Ange Kouame is from Ateneo. Watching them play together, our regional loyalties dissolve.”

MVP called the hosting of the FIBA World Cup an “apex moment” for the country which took center stage to the world. “This was another demonstration of cooperation between ourselves and the San Miguel Group,” he said. Aside from Gilas’ triumph in the Asian Games, MVP recognized the achievements of World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena and the Philippine women’s football team Filipinas as highlights of the past year.