Homecourt Advantage

The host country always enjoy home court advantage, they can also dictate events they believe could deliver the medals or even the overall crown for them.  When the 31st Sea Games unfolds in Hanoi, Vietnam, expect  a hard time for the Philippines to defend its title.  In the 2017 Kula Lumpur Games for instance, the Malaysians scheduled the athletics events so close to each other that it took the off the “starch” from our runners. Eric Cray for instance won the 400 meters but was too tired for the 100 meters which was scheduled just one hour before the century dash. The host country could also dictate games or events they want to scrap.  Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino said he received a letter from the Hanoi organizers that arnis, triathlon, skateboarding, jiujitsu, e-sports, wakeboarding, sambo, windsurfing, baseball, duathlon, rugby, softball, squash and obstacle course are not included in the Hanoi Games.  So see what I told you? This early “gisurambaw na ta”.  The sports mentioned above accounted for 58 gold medals. On the other hand, the Vietnamese included some indigenous sports which are familiar only to themselves.In 2013, Myanmar won the championship by including events which were completely unknown to their rivals. In Thailand for instance, our team was driven to heavy traffic so they  would be late for their events and will not be able to warm up. All is not lost however, as Tolentino promised to lobby for the events  that were dropped.  Another thing going for Hanoi’s drive for the crown is that while the rest of its SEA neighbors are reeling from the effects of Covid-19, Vietnam has registered zero deaths.  Meaning, the Vietnamese athletes did not have problems with their training or venues. Our gyms and track ovals for example have been converted to make-shift hospitals for our rising Covid-19 cases. I was in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City four years ago on my way to Yangon in Myanmar.

Ironman Axed

As I mentioned in previous columns, the Covid-19 pandemic continue to annihilate sports activities all over the world. Here in Cebu, the 2020 Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Philippines, was not spared either. Originally scheduled for August 9, organizers has moved the triathlon to August 1, 2021. Cebu first hosted the Ironman 70.3 in 2012. Organizes said it’s just too dangerous to hold the event at this time when cases of the coronavirus are rising in Central Visayas.

Did you know?

MANNY MERCER a famous horse jockey was riding down the start of the race in Ascot, England in September 1959 when his horse “Priddy Fair”, reared up and threw Mercer against the rails.  The horse then kicked him in the head, killing Mercer instantly. The race was abandoned for the day. “Nakabawos ang kabayo sa sige’g latos ni Mercer”.

NOTES: I was awakened from my slumber the other day when our doorbell rang.  When I looked out from my window, the guy in front of the door shouted “naay sap sir!”. Since the start of the pandemic, I haven’t received a single centavo from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP). So I was excited.  But when I opened the door, the guy said “fresco pa ni ang sap-sap sir”.  “Hapit nako gi tamparos ang tawo, isda man diay nga sap-sap”.

PAN RUN. A few years ago, I organized a race for a bakery chain and called it “Pan Run”.  All finishers got a loaf of bread. If the IATF agrees that we can organize a race for the bakery again at this time, we will call it Pan Demic.