The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
“IT’S God’s gift.”
This is how Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino described the historic 1-0 win of the Philippine women’s team over host New Zealand in the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the jampacked Sky Stadium in Wellington last Tuesday.
Tolentino said fate has again presented a valuable gift to Philippine sports on almost the same day and exactly the same month two years ago when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo captured the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.
“Chance favors the prepared mind and in the Filipinas’ case, the prepared team,” added Tolentino, who also cited the Philippine Football Federation’s efforts to form the best team ever for the most prestigious women’s football tournament.
Tolentino, also the president of PhilCycling, said the month of July has become a winning month for Philippine sports.
“Two years ago, on July 26, 2021, at the massive Tokyo International Forum, Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first gold Olympic medal,”recalled Tolentino.
“And on Tuesday, July 25, it was the Filipinas’ turn to make sports history– they didn’t only qualify for the World Cup for the first time, they also made an impact,” he added.
Tolentino also cited the Philippine women’s softball team , also known as Blu Girls, for advancing to the playoffs of the Women’s Softball World Cup following back-to-back victories also over New Zealand, 5-3, and tournament host Italy, 6-5.
The Blu Girls deserve the same level of admiration by also conquering odds against the world’s top softball nations, according to Tolentino.
“Come to think of it, the 23rd Olympiad opens exactly a year from now on July 26, 2024– the 100 th year of Philippines participation in the Olympic movement, having debuted in 1924 also in the French
capital.
“God willing, and with our athletes training harder and with more dedication and focus, we can do better in Paris,” added Tolentino.