Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office
Philippine Sports Commission chairperson John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio is confident that Team Philippines can surpass its consecutive four-gold medal performances in the past two editions of the Asian Games.
According to the PSC chief, if Filipino athletes can win gold medals at the Olympics, there is no reason they cannot win at the Asian Games.
“Optimism is there, expectation is there. Ang buhay ng atleta, lahat gustong manalo. Tiwala ako sa puso at determinasyon ng bawat atletang Pilipino,” said Gregorio.
“Kung nananalo tayo sa Olympics, kaya rin nating manalo sa Asian Games, kaya rin nating maging gold medalist sa maraming sports sa Asian Games. Kami ni POC President Bambol Tolentino, naniniwala na hihigit tayo sa apat na gintong medalya,” he added.
Gregorio is also hoping that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will double the cash incentives for all Filipino medalists in the Asian Games, similar to the increase he granted to Southeast Asian Games medalists in last year’s competition in Thailand.
Under Republic Act No. 10699 or the National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001, an Asian Games gold is worth P2 million, P1 million for silver, and P400,000 for bronze.
“Yan po ay pinapakiusap, kinakausap po natin ang Presidente pagdating sa ganyan, discretion po ng pangulo yan. Pero katulad po nung Southeast Asian Games, kung ano po ang ibinigay ng PSC, dinoble nya po,” Gregorio said.
“We hope and pray, kung talagang successful ang participation sa Asian Games, si Pangulong Marcos po ay sportsman at si First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos. They understand Philippine sports and they love Filipino athletes. I am confident, they will really support and reward our athletes after the Asian Games,” said the PSC chief.
In addition, Gregorio shared that starting next week, some members of the national team will begin departing well ahead of the Asian Games, which officially opens on September 19. He also mentioned plans to hold a “rara” for the Filipino athletes as a way of giving them a strong boost of motivation and support.
“Inischedule po natin yung ‘rara’ kasama ang Philippine Olympic Committee para po mabigyan natin sila ng enough motivation sa paglahok nila sa Nagoya Asian Games. Let’s all pray and work very hard to achieve and get more than four gold medals,” said Gregorio.
The official send-off for Team Philippines is set on September 10 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
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