With Gilas Pilipinas and female aces in billiards and jiu-jitsu greasing the drive, the Philippines enjoyed a banner month in October.
Gilas ended 61 agonizing years of futility with a storybook conquest of men’s basketball in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, a feat highlighted by an epic comeback win against the host Chinese in the semifinals, 77-76, and a payback 70-60 victory over elims tormentor Jordan in the finals.
The Nationals’ well-celebrated triumph in the sport closest to Pinoys’ heart complemented the gold medals collared by jiu-jitsu stalwarts Meggie Ochoa (-48kg class) and Annie Ramirez (-57kg category) just days before.
Together with the golden exploit of pole vault star EJ Obiena in late September, the Philippines finished the Games with four gold along with two silver and 12 bronzes.
Absent in the Asiad, pool stalwart Chezka Centeno brought pride and honor to the country in a different front.
Centeno ruled the Predator Women’s World 10-Ball Championship in Klagenfurt, Austria to join the elite club of Filipino global champs led by the great Efren Reyes and Rubilen Amit.
For shining on the big stage, Gilas, Ochoa, Ramirez, and Centeno headline the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s top achievers for October.
Taking the cue from the champs, muay thai aces Rhichein Yosorez and Alyssa Kylie Mallari (mai muay event), jiu-jitsu’s Kaila Napolis (52kg) and taekwondo’s Darius Venerable (men’s individual poomsae) won golds in the World Combat Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
They anchored the Pinoy contingent’s 3-5-5 haul in the competition featuring 16 combat spots.
Para athletes continued the Philippine roll, winning 10 gold, four silver and five bronze medals in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games for the ninth overall and country’s best ever showing.
Boxer Eumir Marcial and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan booked their trips to the Paris Olympics one after the other. Marcial qualified after taking silver in Hangzhou while fellow Tokyo vet Yulo earned his ticket in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium – the same tourney where Fil-Am Finnegan clinched hers.
Krizziah Macatula and Grace Gella were also a source of pride as they captured the women’s doubles bronze in the IBF World Championship in Kuwait. It was the country’s first podium finish in the event since 1979 when current PSC Commissioner Bong Coo and Lita dela Rosa struck gold in Manila.
