Team Philippines must prove worth with repeat in 2007

The 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand is still two full years away but Team Philippines, still euphoric after winning its first-ever overall championship, should move heaven and earth to retain its crown to finally dispel suspicions of cheating and silence the so called "Doubting Thomases."

House deputy minority leader Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara told The STAR that the victorious Philippine delegation should not rest on its laurels but instead exert extra effort to score a repeat of its splendid performance to validate its claim as the overall champion even on hostile grounds.

"The best evidence that we did not cheat is to repeat," said Angara, adding however, that allegations of cheating had not actually been proven.

Angara said supported the recommendation of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella requesting the national government to allocate a bigger budget for the national delegation in the 2007 competitions more so that Thailand, which first raised allegations of unfair officiating during the games, plays host.

Angara said the country’s triumph is a source of national pride for the Filipinos "even if it’s a bit tainted because of the accusations which were not proven at all."

He said everybody should learn to accept the results although admittedly, "there are some errors. It’s not a perfect system," he said.

Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, meanwhile, said the big discrepancy in the medal hauls between the Philippines and Thailand is proof enough that the country won fair and square.

"The big gap is too wide and considering the apology made by one of their officials, we have reason to believe there is no cheating," she said, adding the dominance of the host nation in the biennial conclave was a "wonderful thing to happen to us."

At the same time, the lady governor paid tribute to the athletes, trainors and the officials, who, she said, should get the credit for the country’s emergence as SEA Games superpower.

"The politicians should not get the credit. We should not inject politics in sports," she said, without mentioning any names.