Gregorio cites silver medalists

MANILA, Philippines — PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio made special mention of the country’s nine Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games silver medalists in recognizing the achievements of the Philippine delegation because “they did their best and it hurt the most.”

The second placers were a win away from hitting paydirt. Still, they landed a podium finish and pocketed a cash reward of P1 million. The silver medalists were Jean Claude Saclag of mixed martial arts; the 3x3 U23 women’s basketball team of Kacey de la Rosa, Kennan Ka, Vic Pasilang and Amyah Espanol; the women’s sepak takraw team of Nelly Salon, Abegail Sinogbuhan and Jean Marie Sucalit; Aya Cojuangco of archery; Juliana Candelaria, Tachiana Mangin and Kurt Barbosa of taekwondo; Carlo Paalam of boxing and Alex Enriquez of jiu-jitsu. “We’re so proud of them,” said Gregorio. Archery, mixed martial arts, sepak takraw and 3x3 U23 women’s basketball delivered their first-ever silvers in the Asian Games.

The 29 total medals were the most for the Philippines since 42 in 1966. “Historic showing, maybe because we isolated and insulated Philippine sports and our athletes from all the kaguluhan in the world,” said Gregorio. “We were focused and determined. Maybe because we knew that achieving this feat would make our nation proud and 110 million Filipinos smile. All our medalists were the best, they’re the reason for our historic accomplishment.”

Gregorio singled out taekwondo, athletics and gymnastics as the most outstanding NSAs. “The most promising NSAs were those that overachieved,” he added. “Sepak takraw, soft tennis, 3x3 U23 women’s basketball, archery, beach volleyball and karate.”

Gregorio also paid tribute to athletes who failed to podium. “They all pushed and did their best,” he said. “Lahat ng pinadala, pwede mag medalya. Mga athletes na almost but not quite, still a great effort.” The near-podium athletes who fell a win short of a bronze were men’s 3x3 U23 basketball; Nesthy Petecio and Jumilardo Ogayre of boxing; Karl Gonzalvo of e-sports; Carlos Yulo in parallel bars; Charmea Quelino of judo; Danna Abad and Joshea Malazarte of padel women’s pairs; Dhenver Jon Castillo of boys’ foil sailing; Kiko Francisco of skateboarding; women’s softball team; Sherwin Nuguit of men’s soft tennis; Nuguit and Christy Sanosa of mixed soft tennis; men’s soft tennis team; Jemyca Aribado and David Pelino of mixed squash; Toby Espejon of men’s shortboard surfing; Kayla Sanchez of 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle swimming; Rosegie Ramos of 53kg weightlifting; Kristel Macrohon of 69kg weightlifting and Callum Roberts of 87kg Greco-Roman wrestling.