The world mourns the passing away of Pele at 82, the greatest soccer player of all time who gave Brazil three World Cup championship trophies, a feat none today and in the future may be able to duplicate.
Pele came from a poor family and used soccer as his pathway to fame and fortune.
Today, young Pinoy sports fans may have forgotten how the nation mourned when Anthony Villanueva missed by a hairline snatching the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in boxing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Never mind if some reports said he was denied the golden victory because of “internal politics” then prevailing in the international boxing federation where European member countries have persuasive powers within.
Villanueva lost by a close decision to Soviet featherweight Stanislav Stepashkin. He died penniless and bedridden in Cabuyao, Laguna in May 2014.
How ironic and perhaps bittersweet that Hidilyn Diaz ably vindicated Villanueva’s sorry loss when she won the country’s elusive first Olympic gold also in Tokyo 5 decades and four years later.
Again, young sports fans born in this millenium did not see how Lydia de Vega wowed and lifted our countrymen’s morale with her triumph in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi where she was not considered a favorite to win.
She erased all doubts as Diay successfully defended her title as the fastest woman in Asia by clinching the gold in the 100 meters four years later in Seoul, South Korea.
De Vega, adored by millions of Pinoy fans, died of cancer recently this year.
Again, the Philippines’ suffered a “debacle” of sorts when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco suffered the same fate as Villanueva in the 1996 Atlanta Games, losing by decision the gold in the light flyweight category to Bulgarian Daniel Petrov.
The sports youths of today are enamored by the exploits of Gilas national team members in the world stage as they see them play on TV even when they come short of taking a podium slot among the victors.
Not so much is read any longer of the 1954 national team that won the bronze in the world championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where the Filipinos competed without the help of a naturalized American player.
Skippered by Lauro Mumar and bannered by the Great Difference Carlos Loyzaga, the Pinoy dribblers finished honorably behind the US and host Brazil.
How sports circumstances and conditions have evolved into these contemporary times have taught us to believe that we cannot be at par with our foreign counterparts in basketball without seeking “foreign” help.
Caloy Yulo did not have the luck to make a podium finish also in Tokyo but he has promised to come back with a vengeance in the 2024 Paris edition.
But we have another “hidden” hope in an event the Pinoys are not known to excel in.
I am referring to EJ Obiena, the country’s outstanding pole vaulter who has placed the Philippines in the athletics world map.
EJ is the reigning SEAG titleholder and also the Asian Games champion. He brilliantly copped the bronze in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Denver, serving notice that his time will come to full fruition in Paris in 2024. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
