THE Meralco Bolts added an “Olympic flavor” to the opening rites of the PBA’s 49th season yesterday that raised the curtains on the season-opening Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
They tapped no less than Paris Olympic Games veteran and 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Aleah Finnegan as their muse for the opening parade.
“I don’t know a lot (about) the PBA but I am very excited to be Meralco’s muse. I was given the invitation through the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines two weeks ago so I feel honored to be chosen,” Finnegan, who conducted a two-day clinic for girl gymnasts with fellow Paris Games veteran Emma Malabuyo, said.
“It is actually such an honor to be chosen by such a prestigious organization to be their muse like Meralco. Sports is a celebration of beauty, skills and athleticism and all these combines to make it such a special event for me,” she said.
Finnegan, a member of US NCAA national champion Louisiana State Tigers, was also delighted to be invited by the GAP to conduct a two-day clinic for young girl gymnasts at the MVP Sports Training Center gym in Intramuros.
“I think it was successful and the girls had fun. We just thought them some basic skills and hope to inspire them,” she said.
“We want to inspire and give them so much love as possible. We actually raised this idea with Ma’am Cynthia (Carrion, GAP president) about having a clinic like this so here we are,” Malabuyo said.
“I remember when I was a small girl that we also had some gymnasts to look up to so we pray that they will also be inspired and motivated to continue their career in the future,” Finnegan said. “We hope this clinic will also inspire their confidence.
“This is a very special to us to give back to these young gymnasts,” she added.
“To be in the Olympics was a very special experience and to be able to show love to these gymnasts is really amazing,” Malabuyo noted.
“Coming after the Olympics, so having clinics like this is a good move so that our young gymnasts can look up to them so they can aspire to be like them,” Carrion said.
