Gomez is TOPS special guest
PHILIPPINE Fencing Association president Richard Gomez will be the main guest in Saturday’s special edition of the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids OrganIzation in PhilippIne Sports (TOPS) via Zoom.
Gomez, who was also elected as second vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) last November, will talk about the preparations of the national fencing team in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Uzbekistan 9n April 26-27 and Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam on Nov.21-Dec. 2 this year.
The OQT will be held in Uzbekistan with five Filipino fencers — Jylyn Nicanor and CJ Concepcion in men’s and women’s sabre event, Hanniel Abella and Noelito Jose in epee and Nathaniel Perez in foil — carrying the hopes of the nation.
The Philippines is also hoping to improve its fighting third-place finish behind Singapore and Vietnam in 2019 SEA Games held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
The Filipinos captured two gold medals courtesy of Nicanor in the women’s individual sabre and the team of Abella, Mickyle Bustos, Anna Estimada and Harlene Raguin in the women’s team epee event.
They added two silver and seven bronze medals for a total haul of 11.
This is the first time that TOPS is hosting its weekly session sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB) on Saturday.
TOPS president Ed Andaya of People’s Tonight is inviting all officers and members, and friends in the sports community to join the 10 a.m. sports session.
This is the 15th session for the year and third for the month of TOPS, which is composed of editors, columnists, reporters and photographers of the country’s leading national tabloids and blogger-friends from different social media groups.
Last month, TOPS celebrated women’s month with the PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup Alexa Polidario and Erjane Magdato of Abanse Negrense last March 4; PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram, Philippine Sports Hall of Fame awardee Elma Muros-Posadas and mixed martial arts superstar Lara Pearl Alvarez of Team Lakay last March 11; Philippine Olympians Association president Akiko Thomson-Guevara, taekwondo champion-coach Janice Lagman-Lizardo and duathlon star Pawie Fornea last March 18; and Milo stars Pauline Lopez and Stephen Fernandez, obstacle course racing champion Kaizen dela Sena and table tennis star Rose Jean Fadol last March 25.
After the Holy Week break, BaliPure Water Defenders team manager Gil Cortez, coach Rommel Abella and players Sati Espiritu and Gyra Barroga, former Southeast Asian Games long jump bronze medalist Khay Santos of Baguio City and mixed martial arts stars Jennelyn Olsim and Jomar James Pa-Ac of Team Lakay attended tbe session last April 8 and Kurash Sports Federation of the Philippines president Rolan Llamas last April 15.
Veteran sportscaster Ernest Leo Hernandez is the moderator.
