Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentvella, national surfing coach Ian Laguan and national player Nilbie Blancada join TOPS president Ed Andaya of People’s Tonight and other TOPS members during the “Usapang Sports on Air” via Zoom last Thursday.
Pinoy surfers hope to continue making waves
THE future is bright and sunny for Philippine surfing.
This was stressed by national surfing coach Ian Saguan when asked about the performance of the six-member Philippine team in the recent 2021 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games in El Salvador.
“The ISA World Surfing Games is actually an Olympic qualifying tournament, but we did not make it to Tokyo Olympics,” said Saguan during the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom last Thursday.
“But judging from the performances of our surfers, led by Nilbie Blancada, I can say we did very well,” added Saguan during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“Personally, hindi ko ine-expect yun ganung kagandang performanceng ating nga surfers. First of all, yung mga nakalaban nilang surfers ay matagal na nilang tinitingala. We have shown the surfing world that the Filipinos can really compete. Nakatutuwa na nalagay tayo sa mapa ng world surfing,” Saguan told editors and reporters of TOPS.
Saguan said Blancada and her five teammates — John Mark Tokong, Edito Alcala, Jr., Daisy Valdez, Vea Estrellado and Jay-R Esquivel — earned a lot of respect during the seven-day qualifying tournament held in El Sunzal and La Bocana in El Salvador. last May 29-June 6.
Blancada, who captured a gold medal in shortboard during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila, said she did her best to earn a berth to the TokyoOlympics.
“Gusto ko sana talaga na makapasok sa Olympics. Ginawa ko naman ang lahat pero siguro hindi pa para sa akin ngayon. Pero hindi kami titigil hanggang hindi ko makuha yung pangarap ko,” said the 28-year-old Blancada, who started surfing in Siargao at at the age of 14.
Both Saguan and Blancada lamented the decision of the Vietnam organ8zining committee not to include surfing in the coming SEA Games.
“Sayang talaga na walang surfing sa SEA Games sa Vietnam. Pero naka-focus naman kami ngayon sa darating na kumpetisyon sa Australia at Bali, Indonesia, pati na sa Asian Beach Games sa Sanya, China,” added Blancada.
Surfing is making its Olympic debut at Shidashita Beach, 40 miles outside of Tokyo, on July 25-Aug. 1.
