SHARING the same sentiments of other sports leaders, businessman-sportsman Mikee Romero considers the 19 Philippine team members as the “strongest lineup” ever for the Olympic Games, capable of ending the country’s 97-year dry spell in the quadrennial sportsfest.
“We have the best set of athletes ever assembled in Philippine sports for the Olympics,” Romero said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
To underscore his confidence in the Olympic standard-bearers, the Northport team owner announced additional bonuses for medals.
“So out of my companies’ expenses we will give an additional P3 million, P2 million and P1 million for gold silver and bronze, respectively, for our athletes,” he said in the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corp., the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, Smart, Milo, Amelie Hotel and Braska Restaurant.
Along with the incentives to be given by the Philippine Sports Commission, San Miguel and the MVP Sports Foundation, an Olympic gold medalist will now receive a whopping total of P33 million, the silver medalistP17 million, and bronze medalistP8 million, the biggest cash bonanza ever put up in the history of Philippine sports.
The Philippine Sports Commissionhas put up P10 million for gold, P5 million for silver and P2 million for bronze. Business tycoons Manny V. Pangilinan of SMART, PLDT and Maynilad, and Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corp. have matched the government incentive.
Romero, whoas shooting chiefjoined the Philippine contingent in the 2012 London Olympiad, said he would not be in the Tokyo Games because of his duties as Deputy House Speaker.
“Sayanglang at walaakoduon because I really feel that the Philippines will get its first gold medal in Tokyo. But as a senior member of the House, I have to preside during the morning session when President Duterte makes his State of the Nation address on July 26,” he said.
“We were invited by Philippine Olympic Committee President and fellow Deputy House Speaker Abraham Tolentino to be part of the delegation but our duty in the House is equally important,” he said.
He cited the reasons why the country’s elusive search for gold could end in Tokyo.
“Majority of these athletes are bemedalled, some of them even champions worldwide,” Romero noted, singling out US Women’s Open Yuka Saso, weightlifter and Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidylin Diaz and Asian Games gold medalist and skateboarder MargielynDidal among his top picks for gold.
“This is like woman power and these three are like a triple threat (for gold),” he said.
“Kapag tiningnan mo ‘yung mga track record and background naito, pinag sama sama na‘yung mga magagaling na atleta. Not only at the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games level but at the world level.
“Kulangnalangditosi Manny Pacquiao.”
He also mentioned men’s world floor exercise champion Carlos Yulo, the country’s most bemedalled athlete in the 30th Southeast Asian Games; and air rifle shooter Jayson Valdez as probable gold-medal contenders.
“Jayson is a three-time national gold medalist and has appeared in many World Cups. He comes from a family of shooters, his father being former national shooter and SEA Games gold medalist Julius Valdez. I really hope he springs a surprise,” Romero said of his former protégé.
He said he believes the national team “can bring home at least two to five medals from Tokyo. A maximum of five and a minimum of two.”
Given the opportunity and sacrifices to qualify for the Olympics, he advised the country’s campaigners “to really go out and perform for their country and not just enjoy the experience. Be in it to win it.
“To our magnificent 19 athletes, good luck, bring home the bacon and make the country proud. We are already proud of you and make us prouder. For the first Philippine Olympic gold medal, 2021 is the time,” Romero said.
