Zamboanga del Sur bet wins 1st gold in 2023 Palaro

By Peter Atencio

Filipinas, especially head coach Alen Stajcic and his staff, nor the management side of Jeff Cheng and for sure, the Philippine Football Federation will see to it the leaps and bounds gained in the campaign will not go to waste.

Blueprint is set

From being unknown, the Filipinas made it possible to the World Cup and in just 18 months, a competitive team was assembled by Stajcic. Thanks to a solid scouting strategy, an even better program and support by management, the path to future World Cups is clearer by now.

It can be done again and the Filipinas being regular fixtures in the tournament is now a possibility. But to accomplish this is another story.

Deep pool of talents

With the amount of publicity and feelgood stories that the Filipinas generated during their campaign in New Zealand, there should be no longer a problem when it comes to introducing the national team to soccer players abroad.

And unlike the predecessors of the team, who really have to bear the brunt of getting little support, if none at all, from both corporate and fans, future Filipinas will continue to reap the rewards helped set into motion by those who played for the national team before them.

Time is also on our side, because we have four full years to assemble the team that will contend for the next world cup. Plus, the PFF’s grassroots programs are in full swing especially with an upcoming women’s league in the next few weeks.

Filipinas did us proud

Aside from playing their hearts out and putting everything on the pitch, the Filipinas actually have exceeded expectations in more ways than one.

One good basis, however, is that the Philippines has earned the full three points in three games.

As it stands right now, the Republic of Ireland, Costa Rica, Zambia, Haiti, Panama, South Africa, Argentina and South Korea have yet to taste victory in the tournament.

Vietnam, the only other team from Southeast Asia in the tournament, is also winless in two games.

Experience at hand

One of the key reasons why the Philippines lost its games against Switzerland and to Norway is experience. Heart and soul alone are not enough against seasoned and pedigreed teams that are used to to big matches and who have players seeing action in big leagues in Europe and in other parts of the world.

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD

Giethyl Lubguban and 17-year-old Sean Harry Narag claimed the first two gold medals at the start of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa at the Philsports track stadium on a rainy Monday morning in Pasig City.

Lubguban battled taller rivals to claim the meet’s first gold medal in the elementary girls’ high jump with a leap of 1.4 meters.

“Hindi ko expected na mananalo ako. Kasi, matatangkad ang mga kalaban ko,” said Lubguban, a sixth grader at the Upper Panikian Elementary School in Zamboanga del Sur. Her rival, Briana Cacho from Tarlac, settled for the silver with her final clearance of 1.37 meters, while Ilonggo bet Shanelle Jane Felomino of Carles, Iloilo claimed the bronze medal (1.34 meters). Narag, an incoming 12th grader at the University of Santo Tomas, made his coach, national team mentor Emerson Obiena proud and happy with a 3.90-meter leap in the secondary boys’ pole vault.

This gave the National Capital Region its first gold medal, while Narag’s schoolmate Mejen Sumbongan bagged the silver with his 3.80-meter jump.

Sixteen-year-old Eumar Mamogay from the Western Visayas Region took third place with 3.6 meters.

Narag, who wants to follow the footsteps of Emerson’s son Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, said he has improved after almost a year of training.

Many months ago, the elder Obiena took interest developing the skills of both Narag and Sumbongan, who were both in hurdles.

“Nakinig lang po ako kay coach. Inintindi ko lang po ang mga sinabi niya,” said Narag.

Actions shifts to the Marikina Sports Center today, with 17 gold medals at stake in athletics, while 18 will be up for grabs in swimming.

There will be events outside of Marikina on Tuesday, with billiards to be held at the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall in Cainta, Rizal, football at the Ateneo field, softball at the Rizal High School in Pasig City and artistic gymnastics at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Rhythmic gymnastics will commence at the San Andres Complex in Manila, and tennis will be held at the Fin Asia Homes in Cainta, Rizal.