MANILA, 5 September 2003 — Members of the Bacolod team that won the girls’ 13-14 Little League World Series title in Kirkland, Washington, paid a courtesy call on President Arroyo shortly after returning from the United States.
The girls showed their victory banner to the President and presented her with an honorary jacket symbolizing their feat in the last World Series. In return, the President presented the Paglaum girls a check for 1 million pesos as their incentive. The team’s 2-0 win over Puerto Rico in the title match gave the Philippines its first World Series crown since 1992 when a team from Zamboanga was stripped of the crown it won in Pennsylvania after it was established the squad was reinforced with players from other regions.
After being assured there was no such thing this time, a visibly pleased Arroyo congratulated the girls for “a job well done.” The Bacolod girls, mentored by Reynaldo Fuentes, first beat West America (California) 3-0, then went on to clobber Central America (Ohio) 9-0 and South America (West Virginia) 7-0 before defeating Southwest America (Texas) 3-1 on their way to the championship. Along the way, they lost 1-2 to Puerto Rico but made up for it with a win in the match that mattered most.
Manila Haven for
Pro Sports
Saying sports occupies a lofty place in his development program, Mayor Lito Atienza said Manila will do its part in helping amateur athletes strive for excellence.
Atienza offered Manila as a possible center for a strong sports development geared to help amateur athletes shine at the highest level.
“We’re pushing for professional sports in Manila. While we continue supporting amateur athletes, we should also consider their future. We’ll not hesitate to conduct sports activities for them at the highest level,” said Atienza. He also lamented the sad state of amateur athletes who, after serving flag and country, are left with nothing to do.
To start with, Atienza said the City of Manila will begin with sports like table tennis and lawn tennis.
While Atienza wants to open the door for professional sports, he also encouraged schools to give students a strong and effective sports program.
Buhain Welcomes
Lifestyle Check
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has welcomed a lifestyle check within the agency. PSC chairman Eric Buhain said a lifestyle check should also be conducted among top officials of the government sports-financing agency.
It was his reaction to a suggestion made recently by Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, himself a former PSC commissioner, for a lifestyle check.
“I know his (Puentevella) intention is noble, but it’s a little bit late since we have already submitted our statement of assets and liabilities five weeks ago,” said Buhain. “We’re very supportive of this lifestyle check and we believe that transparency is very important. It’s just regrettable that it came at a time when we have the renewed interest from the private sector to support our athletes,” said Buhain, referring to the 24 million pesos worth of pledges from different private companies and corporations that joined the pledging session held in Malaca?ang last Aug. 15 through the First Gentleman Foundation Inc.
Vence Tops Milo
MM Elims
Five-time national champion Roy Vence took the first step in capturing his sixth title when he ruled the 42-kilometer National Capital Region elimination leg of the 27th National Milo Marathon at the Quirino Grandstand.
In the absence of two-time winner Allan Ballester and defending champion Eduardo Buenavista, Vence turned the race into a tune-up run for his stint in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in December.
The 37-year-old runner from Cebu finished the race in two hours, 29 minutes and seven seconds, a far cry from his time of 2:23:27 in the finals last year.
Vence bagged the title here in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 1999. Last year, he lost to Buenavista by 35 seconds. He is qualified to run in the 42-k finale on Oct. 19, 2003 along with the rest of the runners who completed the course within the four-hour limit. Placing second and third were Noel Bautista (2:32:04) and Rowel Canillo (2:34:44), respectively. Vence pocketed 30,000 pesos for the victory while Bautista and Canillo settled for 20,000 pesos and 10,000 pesos, respectively.
Pinoy Athletes Assured
Help by Embassy in Athens
The Philippine Embassy in Athens has promised to give its full support to the national contingent during its 16-day campaign in the Athens Olympic Games next year.
“Let us know your needs and we will do everything within our power to provide the necessary assistance,” Ambassador Lourdes Morales assured RP delegation to Athens chef de mission Steve Hontiveros who called on her after the recent Chefs de Mission meeting staged by the Athens Organizing Committee.
Told the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) would surely need help in looking for someone it could appoint as Olympic Attache for the Athens Games, Morales said she can recommend one or two individuals, if requested. The ATHOC emphasized during the meeting with more than 200 delegation chiefs that the Olympic Attache can be a big help to a delegation, especially if he/she speaks Greek and has extensive knowledge of the city.
39m Pesos in Brent
Rental Fees Go to PSC
The Pasig Regional Trial Court has finally resolved a legal battle between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of Education, giving the sports agency jurisdiction over rental money being paid by Brent School at the Philsports Complex in Pasig.
This was bared by the PSC, saying PSC chairman Eric Buhain forged a compromise deal with DepEd Secretary Edilberto de Jesus that led to the court ruling.
Aguilar Keeps
Asian Moto Lead
Running a tactical race on a bike he was unfamiliar with, Caltex-Revtex star rider Glenn Aguilar failed to score a win in two heats but kept his lead in the FIM Asian Motocross Championship Series in Sarpong, Indonesia recently. Aguilar, who barely had time to check the course, was not allowed to use his bike for the meet and instead was told to use another bike provided by organizers.
