Tinapos ng Pilipinas ang kampanya nito sa 19th Asian Games nitong Linggo na pinantayan ang kanilang nagawang record noong 2018 Asian Games.
Nakakuha ang bansa ng kabuuang apat na ginto, dalawang pilak at 12 tansong medalya na naglagay sa Pilipinas sa ika-17 puwesto sa medal tally.
Ang men’s pole vaulter na sina Ernest John Obiena, Margarita “Meggie” Ochoa at Annie Ramirez ng Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at ang men’s national basketball squad ay tumulong sa Pilipinas na maulit ang apat na gold medal finish noong 2018 Jakarta Asiad.
Binigyan naman ng dalawang pilak ng boksingero na si Eumir Marcial at wushu fighter Arnel Andal ang bansa.
Ang mga medalyang bronze naman ay mula sa mga wushu artist na sina Jones Inso, Clemente Tabugara Jr. at Gideon Padua; mga manlalaro ng tennis na sina Alex Eala, at Francis Alcantara; ang Philippine sepak takraw team; siklista na si Patrick Coo; Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Jenna Napolis; Sakura Alforte ng karate; Patrick Perez ng taekwondo; at si Elreen Ando ng weightlifting.
“The 19th Asian Games have been an incredible display of talent and determination from our Filipino athletes. Our 4 gold, 2 silver and 12 bronze medals, partnered with the tremendous commitment of each athlete in their respective sports, have made our nation proud,” saad ni Philippine Sports Commission chair Richard Bachmann.
Sinabi naman ni Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino na talagang ginawa ng delegasyon ang lahat upang manalo.
Samantala, nasa bansa na ang Gilas Pilipinas matapos nilang ilagay muli ang pangalan ng bansa sa mapa ng Asian basketball.
Nakatanggap ng hero’s welcome si coach Tim Cone at ang mga manlalaro sa NAIA Terminal 1 Linggo ng madaling araw.
“I don’t know what to say in this moment, you know. The guys just worked so hard and we had such tremendous wins through that. Iran, China — China was an epic game — and then coming out playing as well against Jordan. When we needed to, we saved our best for last and played big when we needed,” sabi ni Cone.
Ang 25-puntos na talo sa Jordan sa group stage ay bahagi ng learning curve na nakatulong sa team na lumago upang maging pinakamahusay sa Asia sa basketball.
“We got slapped in the face when we played Jordan the first time,” sabi ni Cone. “We felt we were playing well and all of a sudden they knocked us for a loop and it made us look in ourselves. We knew we had to change a little bit, do some things differently.”
“I’m so happy that everybody is so happy, you know what I mean? I mean everybody is so happy about it, and that’s basically why you coach. To get those kind of feelings and it was just tremendous,” dagdag pa niya.
