RP heroes welcomed on arrival

Asian Games gold medalists Violito Payla and Joan Tipon of boxing and Antonio Gabica of billiards arrived to a warm reception yesterday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino Airport Terminal 1 from an eight-hour trip from Doha, Qatar.

Also with the group, which arrived a day before the closing ceremonies in the desert capital of Qatar, were boxing bronze medalists Genebert Basadre and Godfrey Castro, billiards silver medal winner Jeffrey de Luna and other members of the latest batch of 229 athletes that competed in the 15-day quadrennial meet.

The group arrived at 1:30 p.m. via Qatar Airways flight QR 646.

All the medalists expressed their pride and joy in winning honors for the country, saying their medals were welcome rewards for all the hard work they went through to prepare for the Games.

"I’m very happy for this medal. We put in our very best, we did what our coach told us to and did what we had to do," Tipon, who won the bantamweight gold, told the STAR.

Tipon said he was doubly happy in winning the gold since it gave much pride to the thousands of overseas Filipino workers in Qatar who had taken time off from their work to watch their compatriots compete in the Games.

"We thank the support of our fellow Filipinos in Qatar," said Tipon, who noted the warm reception and accommodation of overseas Filipino workers in Doha.

Payla, like Tipon, expressed his elation that he won a gold for the Philippines, saying he’s sharing it with OFWs in Qatar and his fellow Filipinos here in the country.

"This is for Filipinos. I Thank God for the win," Payla said.

Boxing president Manny Lopez said he was proud of the achievements of the boxers.

"We are very happy that we contributed to the cause of our campaign in the Asian Games. We at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippine are setting our sights on a greater battlefield — the Olympics," Lopez said. "We would like to thank the Filipino community in Qatar. Their support was overwhelming — they filled the gyms to root for our boxers."

While only winning a silver and losing the gold to Gabica, De Luna said he had no misgivings since the gold was won by a Filipino and assured the Philippine team of a gold.

"I’m happy for my friend. Win or lose, it’s okay since the Philippines was assured of the gold in the all-Filipino final," said De Luna. "To all those aspiring to be good cue artists, go on and perfect your craft."

Ernesto Fajardo, president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, who welcomed De Luna and Gabica upon their arrival, said it came as no surprise to him that the Philippines won a gold in billiards, especially in the case of Gabica.

"I believe it because he wanted to win and he said it with confidence. He said he would train everyday. Well, this guy, in fact, is a model player because he works out regularly in the gym. That’s why he is in top physical and mental condition," said Fajardo.