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Ramon Ang optimistic of another Olympic breakthrough in Paris
Ramon Ang optimistic of another Olympic breakthrough in Paris
ABS-CBN News
Published Jan 31, 2024 08:07 PM PHT
MANILA -- San Miguel Corp. chief executive Ramon S. Ang on Wednesday expressed his optimism regarding the Philippines' campaign in the Paris Olympics later this year.
"Everything is possible when all the country's stakeholders work together. It was just three years ago when Hidilyn Diaz shone in Tokyo for our first gold in the Olympics," Ang said in a statement. "And just last year, we grabbed the Asian Games gold in basketball that eluded us for 60 years."
"So I think another breakthrough is possible," he added.
Ang made the comments after receiving the Executive of the Year Award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) for the second time. He shared the honor with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman and President Manny V. Pangilinan, after their partnership paved the way for Gilas Pilipinas to win gold in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in October 2023.
SMC sports director Alfranchis Chua accepted the award on Ang's behalf during the PSA Annual Awards Night on Monday at the Diamond Hotel.
SMC sports director Alfranchis Chua and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Chairman and President Manny V. Pangilinan receive the award for Executive of the Year from the Philippine Sportswriters Association. Handout/PSA.
"That gold medal was the result of the hard work and effort of not just the players and coaching staff, but most especially, MVP himself. The Gilas Pilipinas program is really his brainchild, and without his vision, commitment, and patriotism to see the program through all these years, we probably would not have a champion Gilas team," said Ang.
"We are proud to have been given the opportunity to be part of it, and we thank MVP for lifting Philippine basketball to greater heights," he added.
Ang, who was first named Executive of the Year in 2017, hopes that Gilas' golden moment in the Asiad will "inspire our athletes to go for more gold medals in Paris."
Four Filipino athletes have already punched their tickets to the Paris Olympics: pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxer Eumir Marcial.
More athletes are tipped to qualify ahead of the Summer Games, which runs from July 26 to August 11.
In the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, the Philippines sent 19 athletes, four of whom brought home medals.
Star weightlifter Diaz delivered the country's first ever gold, while Marcial copped a bronze in boxing. Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam also won silver medals in boxing.
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