By: Alfred Joseph D. Foz
Whoever said that Southeast Asian Games without basketball is empty? a bore? ought to be hanged.
The mammoth crowds at the various venues where the 23rd edition of the meet was held speak for themselves.
From the boxing competitions in Bacolod, to the judo action in Cebu and the aquatics events in Los Baños, Laguna, the enthusiastic throng of people who cheered lustily for the Filipino athletes was simply overwhelming.
Local support for the Filipino athletes was nowhere more evident than in baseball - - already given up as a moribund sport in the Philippines - - which played to an overflowing gallery Sunday at the Rizal ballpark, Manila.
It was a sight to behold.
They clapped, they cheered, they stomped their feet and even did one spectacular “wave” after another in a show of unity and support for their athletes.
“The crowd really inspired us to win,” said an ecstatic Philippine Coach Edgar Delos Reyes in the din of the celebration following their 11-0 rout of Thailand in the abbreviated finals that completed an impressive title sweep by the hosts.
In one fleeting moment during the celebration the crowd sang and gyrated to the tune of “Pinoy Ako” which must have elicited goose pimples and pride for the Filipino race. All these as Filipino catcher Junnifer Piñero hosted and waived a huge Philippine flag to show how glad he was with the support of the crowd.
The scene must have been repeated everywhere in various arenas.
“We are very happy because we did not expect this huge support for the team,” said Ernesto Binarao, the RP batter’s pitcher who played the entire game.
“We really need (to step up) because this is our hometown. We need to show the Filipinos that baseball is still alive here (Philippines),” said Binarao.
As the baseball squad basked in triumph, Filipino athletes in various fronts also did their share in the Philippines’ run away title victory in the region’s biggest sports spectacle.
The most vivid memory of the 23rd Southeast games?
For a nation that badly needs a respite from a tumultuous political life, its probably that time in the last fortnight when Filipinos, setting aside differences and political beliefs, gathered as one in a show of unity and teamwork to show the world what it is capable of doing. /MP
23rd SEA Games Medal Tally
(Official as of 6:34 PM Dec. 5)
COUNTRY G S B TOTAL
Philippines 113 84 94 291
Thailand 87 78 118 283
Vietnam 71 68 89 228
Malaysia 61 50 64 175
Indonesia 49 79 89 217
Singapore 42 32 55 129
Myanmar 17 34 48 99
Laos 3 4 12 19
Brunei 1 2 2 5
Cambodia 0 3 9 12
Timor Leste 0 0 3 3
TOTAL 444 434 583 1461
The mammoth crowds at the various venues where the 23rd edition of the meet was held speak for themselves.
From the boxing competitions in Bacolod, to the judo action in Cebu and the aquatics events in Los Baños, Laguna, the enthusiastic throng of people who cheered lustily for the Filipino athletes was simply overwhelming.
Local support for the Filipino athletes was nowhere more evident than in baseball - - already given up as a moribund sport in the Philippines - - which played to an overflowing gallery Sunday at the Rizal ballpark, Manila.
It was a sight to behold.
They clapped, they cheered, they stomped their feet and even did one spectacular “wave” after another in a show of unity and support for their athletes.
“The crowd really inspired us to win,” said an ecstatic Philippine Coach Edgar Delos Reyes in the din of the celebration following their 11-0 rout of Thailand in the abbreviated finals that completed an impressive title sweep by the hosts.
In one fleeting moment during the celebration the crowd sang and gyrated to the tune of “Pinoy Ako” which must have elicited goose pimples and pride for the Filipino race. All these as Filipino catcher Junnifer Piñero hosted and waived a huge Philippine flag to show how glad he was with the support of the crowd.
The scene must have been repeated everywhere in various arenas.
“We are very happy because we did not expect this huge support for the team,” said Ernesto Binarao, the RP batter’s pitcher who played the entire game.
“We really need (to step up) because this is our hometown. We need to show the Filipinos that baseball is still alive here (Philippines),” said Binarao.
As the baseball squad basked in triumph, Filipino athletes in various fronts also did their share in the Philippines’ run away title victory in the region’s biggest sports spectacle.
The most vivid memory of the 23rd Southeast games?
For a nation that badly needs a respite from a tumultuous political life, its probably that time in the last fortnight when Filipinos, setting aside differences and political beliefs, gathered as one in a show of unity and teamwork to show the world what it is capable of doing. /MP
23rd SEA Games Medal Tally
(Official as of 6:34 PM Dec. 5)
COUNTRY G S B TOTAL
Philippines 113 84 94 291
Thailand 87 78 118 283
Vietnam 71 68 89 228
Malaysia 61 50 64 175
Indonesia 49 79 89 217
Singapore 42 32 55 129
Myanmar 17 34 48 99
Laos 3 4 12 19
Brunei 1 2 2 5
Cambodia 0 3 9 12
Timor Leste 0 0 3 3
TOTAL 444 434 583 1461
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