PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was on the dot.
True to his expectations, Team Philippines won four gold medals on top of two silver and 12 bronze medals for 17th overall in the recently concluded 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Tolentino is now shifting his focus on the biggest sporting event in the world–the Paris Olympics next year.
“So, may four na tayo (Olympic qualifiers). Of course, we’re praying that all sports na puwede nating salihan pumasok,” Tolentino said last Sunday night during a dinner treat for some of the Asiad medalists at the Milky Way Café in Makati. “Even in BMX, we have to compete in European tournaments to get the required points.
“Iyong Gilas, mas mabigat kasi iyong mga natalo sa FIBA World Cup ang makakalaban nila,” he said of the path Gilas will need to take to clinch an Olympic spot in the qualifiers next year.
Pole vault ace Ernest John Obiena, boxer Eumir Felix Marcial, and gymnasts Carlos Edriel Yulo and Aleah Finnegan have all qualified for the Olympiad.
Obiena, who bagged the mint in China with a new Asian record of 5.90 meters, graced the event along with Marcial and the pair of jiu jitsu champions Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez.
Gilas Pilipinas delivered the country’s fourth and last gold after turning back Jordan 70-60 in the title match to end a long and weary 61-year drought in the sport most loved by Pinoys.
The 6-foot-2 Obiena likes his chances to win it all in the Olympics.
“I think it’s pretty good (my podium chances) but there’s still a long way to go. A lot of things can change but I’m pretty confident and I think we have better odds than the last time,” Obiena said. “I don’t think there is more expectation of me in Paris than I had in the Asian Games.
“I owe you guys for writing that ‘it’s a sure gold.’ That was heavy but I kinda longed for it, I enjoyed it. I guess I truly have been molded by the test of time.”
Jiu jitsu bronze medalists Kaila Napolis, Patrick Coo of BMX race, and the sepak takraw quintet of Rheyjey Ortouste, Jason Huerte, Ronsited Gabayeron, Jom Lerry Rafael, and Mark Joseph Gonzales in men’s regu and with Vince Torno in the quadrant also showed up in the event.
Marcial settled for the silver in his first try in boxing’s light heavyweight division, losing via unanimous decision in the finale to Chinese foe Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan in a slugfest that could have gone either way.
“A lot of people say that the decision was rigged, and I got cheated. I’m going to use this as a motivation to train harder because had I knocked him out, had I really beaten him up, there would not have been any questions and there would have not been any chance of me getting cheated,” Marcial said.
