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HANOI — Nagbigay ng pampasiglang salita ang mga sports leaders ng bansa sa miyembro ng Team Philippines sa bisperas ng opening ceremony ng 31st Southeast Asian Games nung Miyerkoles.
“Let me start by a word of gratitude for all of you for trusting me another term to lead as City Mayor of Tagaytay,” pahayag ni Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, na nagbabalik bilang mayor pagkaraang makumpleto ang ‘full term’ bilang representative ng Cavite’s 8th congressional district.
“I am bringing that victory with me, as an inspiration to our team. I am also bringing the new leadership of our country with me with a fervent hope of their support to our athletes,” dagdag ni Tolentino.
“I am now back in Vietnam to lead our contingent in another rally to boost the morale of our athletes, this time to defend our medals during the last SEA Games,” sabi niya. “tI will be a difficult task because we don’t have the advantage of our friendly host.
“But we will be putting up a really good fight because we are now regaining our old stature as an athletic force in South East Asia.”
Dinagdag pa ni Tolentino: “In my heart, I honestly see the desire of our athletes to bring home the medals. It might be because our leadership is being felt, that support to them has been pouring from the government and the stakeholders that are behind us with more enthusiasm.”
“Team Philippines, we are one and we will always be one,” pahayag pa niya.
Si Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez ay nagpahayag ng kanyang paniniwala at tiwala sa mga Filipino athletes.
“This edition presented extra challenges given the pandemic,” sabi ni Ramirez. “I’m keeping my faith in the heart of our national athletes to overcome and come home victorious.”
Ang taglay na suwerte ni Ramirez ay nagresulta ng overall championships nung 2005 at ngayong naupo naman siya bilang PSC chief ay nagkampeon muli ang Pilipinas sa 2019 SEA Games, at ngayon nga ay target muli ang kampeonato sa Vietnam.
“I hope our athletes will not only win, but will also truly experience the Games while they are there,” pahayag ni Ramirez mula sa kan yang PSC offices in Manila. “Win medals, win friends.”
Maging si PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez ay patuloy ang pagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga atleta bilang chef de mission sa Games na na-postponed nung Disyembre dahil sa Covid-19 pandemic.
“I know that the athletes are eager to show their wares,” sabi ni Fernandez. “Their spirits are high, and I wish them good luck and always remind them to have fun.”
