PBBM leads send off of PH contingent to SEA Games

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sent off the Philippines’ 840-strong delegation to the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in a ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on April 24, 2023.

Carrying the country’s flag, the Filipino athletes will try to vie for podium finishes in 38 disciplines at the region’s biggest biennial multisport event set from May 5 to 17, 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Philippine Sports Com- mission (PSC) assured its full support to all members of Team Philippines including funding preparations, supplies, manpower and logistics.

President Marcos reminded the athletes that the entire nation will be behind them in their bid to win medals in this year’s showpiece hosted by Cambodia, expressing confidence about their training even amidst the pandemic.

“I thank you all for the honor and glory that you bring to our country,” said Marcos Jr. in his speech before around 700 athletes, coaches, and NSA officials who will be leaving for Cambodia in batches in the coming weeks.

“At ngayon… ‘yung mga iba ngayon napupunta sa Cambodia ay hindi pa nag-champion, magiging champion pa lang... The hopes and the dreams and the aspirations of our countrymen for the Philippines ride with you,” said Marcos.

The Philippines will look to equal or surpass the fourth-place finish of the team in the previous SEA Games in Hanoi where it took home 52 gold medals.

Marcos said his support to Philippine sports and the athletes will go beyond the coming SEA Games.

“If this administration, this government can do anything more to support our athletes, to support sports in our country, support the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, if there’s anything more than this government can do, the administration can do, that I can personally do, please make sure to tell me because we are all rooting for you and we want to do everything we can do so that you can be successful in your chosen events,” said Marcos.

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN NO GILAS TEAM YET FOR CAMBODIA SEAG

As we were doing this piecejust less than three weeks before the Cambodia SEAG, coach Chot Reyes has not yet firmed up the national roster for the men’s basketball event.

News filtering out of the mainstream say that not all those named in the pool are coming to attend the practices.

Reyes bemoans the fact that defending titleholder Indonesia has been in training camp a month ago and is intently scouting for the best naturalized American player to beef up its ranks.

Pinoy sports fans won’t like what they are reading.

It is okay to them if Gilas lost to a highly touted opponent like South Korea, China, Iran, Lebanon or even Japan.

But losing to an opponent whose national sport is football and badminton is unacceptable. They call it a hard slap on the face, an insult to the intelligence.

It is very likely that Indonesia will “die” to defend and retain the SEAG basketball crown.

It has been the dream of every SEAG opponent to beat the Philippines in the dribble and drive game.

Gilas should also be wary of Thailand who before was the Philippines’ perennial challenger.

Now that they have wtinessed how Indonesia did what was difficult to achieve, the Thais are now also emboldened to fix their basektball philosophy and preparations.

No longer is it safe for the Philippines to ignore the brewing developments over that side of the basketball fence.

The Cambodia tilt starts May 5 and every diligent coach knows that early preparation and training are key ingredients in winning and losing.

Reyes and Gilas folks received so much flak after their ugly defeat in the hands of the Indons last year who were handled by former Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman. Of course, it is re-assuring that

Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee is Gilas main man and naturalized player.

Pinoy cage fanatics would want that JunMar Fajardo and Japhet Aguilar play alongside JB as the trio should easily match up or overshadow any trio from the opposing teams.

RR Pogoy will miss the action but there’s Calvin Oftana to sub him.

Throw in Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, Robert Bolick and Ray Parks Jr and Chot has his own “Magnificent Seven.”

Chot can also call in Carl Tamayo, Kevin Alas, Jamie Malonzo and Jason Castro.

Kiefer and Thirdy Raevna are always willing to don the national uniform amd serve the country. There’s also Aaron Black and UAAP standout Jerome Lastimosa. Gauging by the relaxed and confident manner by which the SBP and Reyes are treating the SEAG joust, we cannot erase the possibility that another nightmare might occur in Pnom Penh.

But nobody likes to be hit by lightning twice.

Despite this unfavorable conditions that we hear, read and watch, you and I must always place our unswerving faith in the Pinoy cage hero. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD