PINASALAMATAN ni Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez ang Armed Forces of the Philippines para sa kontribusyon ng military-athletes sa medal finish ng Pilipinas sa katatapos na 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Sina Olympic champion weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ng Philippine Air Force, trackster Clinton Bautista ng Philippine Navy at boxers Ian Clark Bautista (Navy) at Eumir Marcial (Air Force) ay nagsipag-ambag ng gintong medalya sa kani-kanilang sports.
Gayundin sina Muay Thai’s Phillip Delarmino (Philippine Navy) at PH women’s basketball players Janine Pontejos at France Mae Cabinbin (Army) at Marizze Andrea Cabinbin (Navy).
“We thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines for these athletes. The contributions of the AFP proved vital to our success in the SEA Games,” pahayag ni Ramirez.
Nag-uwi ang Team Philippines ng 52 gold, 70 silver at 104 bronze medals para tumapos na fourth overall sa medal standings, best finish ng bansa sa biennial meet na ginanap sa labas ng Pilipinas sapul nang mag-second overall noong 1983 sa Singapore.
Ang anim na gintong galing sa soldier-athletes ay nagbigay ng kalamangan sa Team Philippines mula sa Singapore, humakot ng 47 gold medals at fifth overall sa medal tally.
“The AFP has been very supportive, not only in our SEA Games campaign, but every time we carry our flag in international competitions,” komento pa ni Ramirez, na pinasalamatan at pinuri din ang bumubuo sa 117 enlisted athletes at coaches mula sa tatlong military branch.
Kumulekta rin ang military-athletes ng 11 silver at 16 bronze medals sa Hanoi mula kina rowers Cris Nievarez (Army) at Joanie Delgaco (Navy), may tig-dalawang medalya, at si WGM Janelle Frayna (Air Force) sa chess.
Ang iba pang silver medalists mula sa AFP: decathlete Aries Toledo, boxer Irish Magno, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo (chess), Russel Misal (table tennis), Jeson Patrombon (tennis) at wrestlers Alvin Lobreguito, Ronil Tubog at Jhonny Morte.
Habang bronze medalists naman sina Sonny Wagdos at Jelly Dianne Paralige sa athletics, boxer Riza Pasuit, rowers Roque Abala at Nicanor Jasmin, sepak takraw’s Jason Huerte at Rheyjey Ortouste, beach volleyball’s Alnakran Abdilla, Jovelyn Gonzaga at wrestlers Jason Balabal at Noel Norada. (VT ROMANO)
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