Pinoy athletes hailed for successful Asiad stint

FILE: SAP GO WITH ASIAD GOLD MEDALISTS. Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go takes a selfie with Asian Games gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz, (weightlifting), Yuka Saso, Loisa Kaye Go and Bianca Pagdanganan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Tuesday evening (August 28, 2018). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday welcomed the Philippine athletes who competed in the Asian Games, saying the whole country is proud of them.

“Ako, very proud po ako sa kanila. We are very happy and siguro next week pupunta sila ng Malacañang after our trip sa Jordan at Israel, iwe-welcome po sila ng Presidente sa Malacanang. ‘Yung mga medalists natin, including ‘yung mga bronze medalists po ay welcome sa Malacanang (I am very proud of them. We are very happy and probably next week, they will visit Malacañang after our trip to Jordan and Israel. President Duterte will welcome them in Malacañang. Our medalists, including the bronze medalists, will be welcomed in Malacañang),” Go said in an interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Team Philippines bagged four gold medals and 13 bronze medals. The gold medalists are Hidilyn Diaz for weightlifting, Margielyn Didal for skateboard, Yuko Saso for golf, and Saso’s teammates Bianca Isabel Pagdangan and Lois Kaye Go for women’s golf – team event.

Go also congratulated the Philippine basketball team despite its loss to South Korea, saying the country is proud of what the team achieved.

“Wala po tayong dapat ikahiya at dapat natin ipagmalaki ang ating team kahit na po isang linggo lang ‘yung binuo, still, binigay natin lahat ng ating makakaya at alam ko may potential ang team natin (They have nothing to be ashamed of. We should be proud of our team because despite having been formed in a week’s time, they still gave their best. And I know our team has potential),” he said.

Go was instrumental in sending the country’s basketball team to the Asian Games after it was announced that the basketball associations were not planning to form a basketball team that would represent Philippines.

He said basketball will continuously be improved in the Philippines as the sport itself is a huge help in President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against drugs.

“Imposibleng matigil ‘yung basketball. Itong sports na ito, itong basketball ay pinakamahal natin. Ibig kong sabihin, ito lang ‘yung pwede nating laruin kahit saang kanto, kahit saang gym, maglagay ka lang ng court diyan, kahit sa may… minsan mga kanto kanto lang diyan, maglalagay sila ng ring, naglaro na. Isa ito sa mahal natin na laro at isa ito sa mga makapaglayo sa mga kabataan natin sa droga. Mas lalo natin dapat palakasin ang larong basketball (We can’t stop basketball. We love this sport. It’s a game we can play anywhere, in any gym. You can even place a court in any street corner. It is also one sport that can help the youth avoid drugs. We should strengthen our basketball program),” he said.