Caluag addresses SEAG athletes

Even as Asian and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Daniel Caluag is only 28 with many more years of competitive BMX (bicycle motocross) cycling ahead, he’s now thinking of developing future riders to follow in his tracks.  The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Year isn’t just thinking of his own career.  He’s also hoping that others will be as committed in performing and gaining honors for the country.

“Not sure exactly when I’ll finish BMX,” noted Caluag in an e-mail from Lexington, Kentucky, where he lives with wife Stephanie and their baby daughter Sydney.  “But as I said before, I’m taking it one day at a time.  I will continue to help Philippine cycling in developing future riders.”

Caluag represented the Philippines at the 2012 London Olympics and later brought along his younger brother Christopher, 26, to compete with him at the SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013 and the Asian Games in Incheon last year.  Christopher bagged a silver in Myanmar and finished fourth in Incheon.  Caluag isn’t the type to hog the limelight.  He’s willing to share center stage and give way to others who may be able to reap more honors for the nation.

“The PSC, POC and PhilCycling have been providing funding and support and I’m very thankful for the support that all the organizations have provided,” he continued.  “I think building a BMX track or pump will help in developing cycling in general in the Philippines.  Many top cycling champions have evolved from BMX, for example Mark Cavendish.  BMX can be the stepping stone to road and mountain bike but providing the opportunity to the people can also open up health and wellness to the local community.”

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Cavendish, 29, is the most successful sprinter in Tour de France history with 25 stage wins and the first rider to top the final Champs-Elysees leg four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.  He began as a BMX cyclist then moved to mountain bike. Cavendish worked two years in a bank before embarking on a professional career in 2005.  The 5-9, 150-pound rider’s physique is typically Filipino, proving that cycling isn’t a big man’s sport and is fit for Asians.

PhilCycling (Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines) president Rep. Abraham (Bambol) Tolentino recently said he is assembling a pool of young riders, including crack Fil-Ams, to get ready for the 2016 Olympics and 2018 Asian Games.  BMX cycling is not in the SEA Games calendar this year so Caluag is unable to defend his championship.  Caluag said he’s determined to qualify for Rio de Janeiro and make up for his finish in London.  In his Olympic debut, Caluag wound up 28th of 32 and posted a best time of 39.902 in five heats.  His best time in Incheon was 35.277, a significant improvement from London.

Caluag said his message to the Filipino sports community is to never give up.  “Filipinos are among the best in the world,” he said.  “Believe in yourself and you’ll go far.  Look at Manny Pacquiao and Manny V. Pangilinan to name a few.  If they didn’t believe in themselves, where would they be today?”

As for the Filipino athletes competing at the coming SEA Games, Caluag delivered this message:  “Go after what you want, don’t think about what would or could happen. Think about what you will do and what you want to do.  Focus on the present, what is in your control, don’t think about what happened yesterday, what will happen tomorrow and what will happen in the next few minutes. Focus on what is in your control and what you can do now.”

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NBA veteran Al Thornton has just shattered the myth that a basketball team can’t win with just one big scorer.  Last Wednesday, he scored a conference-high 50 points on 18-of-24 field goals and 11-of-18 free throws to lift NLEX to a 96-90 win over Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

No other Road Warrior finished in double figure points as Thornton delivered more than half of his team’s output.  The local who came closest to hitting twin digits was Jonas Villanueva with nine points.  Asi Taulava had eight points and 15 rebounds.

Thornton was clearly the man of the hour for NLEX which came back from 12 down to repulse the Barangay.  He hasn’t scored less than 30 in his last five outings, leading NLEX to a 4-1 record.  To go with his 50 points, Thornton compiled 18 rebounds and two assists in 45:07 minutes. He hit a scorching 15-of-18 from two-point range and 3-of-6 from triple distance.  NLEX had 14 more field goal tries than Ginebra, a crucial difference. That was made possible by the Road Warriors’ multiple possessions with 21 offensive rebounds to Ginebra’s 16 and three less turnovers.

The win raised NLEX’ record to 4-4, tying Barako Bull, Ginebra and Globalport for fifth place in the standings.  The Road Warriors’ next games are against Globalport on Sunday, Kia on Wednesday and Barako Bull on March 24.