Impact. The word means ?striking of one thing against another, a forceful contact.? In 2004 everybody across the spectrum in Philippine sports made an impact: be it the victorious, the defeated and everyone in between. But ranking those who sent shockwaves with their triumphs, their gallant failures or their scandals, or mere existence in the sports landscape, there lies the challenge.
Here is a rundown of the biggest newsmakers in Philippine sports in 2004.
? Jennifer Rosales?If there?s one Filipina who appeared on the most number of banner stories in all dailies, it was Rosales. But the figures that mattered the most were the ones in denomination, as the California-based Filipino won a staggering P39 million in prize money, good for 10th best in the tour overall and the most by any professional Filipino golfer in history. (Dorothy Delasin, the other Filipino on the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA) Tour, won P34.7 million in the 2001 season, good for ?only? 14th place on the money list.) In 21 starts this year, Rosales finished in the top 10 five times and won once in the Chick-Fil-A Championship in Georgia in May, her first LPGA career victory. No doubt, Rosales?s dream year?along with the hefty presence of Asians in the LPGA?boosts the stock of ladies? golf in the Philippines and proves as well that clubs and dimpled balls can earn a fortune.
? Manny Pacquiao?His name transcends his sport and that is why he is still the most important name in Philippine sports. He didn?t have to win anything this year for the country to feel his presence, which helped in bringing Ring editor Nigel Collins and world-class trainer Freddie Roach to Manila, two important names in the world boxing community. And look at Pacquiao?s fight against Fahsan 3K Battery recently; it wasn?t even a title fight but the sponsors threw in their cash, the spectators came to watch, heck, politicians even saw it as career leverage. Pacquiao, despite drawing with Juan Manuel Marquez for two major belts in May, hasn?t lost his Midas touch.
? Jasmin Figueroa and Toni Rivero?For their country that hasn?t really stood out in the Olympics, the Filipinos will appreciate effort. In Athens, the hard work of two teen girls?the success that goes with it, no matter how mild?was greatly applauded. Figueroa stunned a two-time Olympic medalist from Italy to barge into the Round of 32, finish 27th overall and become the highest-placed Filipino in Olympic archery history. Rivero, a taekwondo jin, made it through the semifinal round and lost by a hairline, 3-2, to a hometown Greek foe, seeing a silver-medal finish slip away. The duo?s accomplishments may have spawned a million ?what ifs,? but they will continue to inspire their countrymen that breaking odds can be done.
? Leadership rigodon?A breath of fresh air or an untimely gust of change? Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco, head of the equestrian federation, replaced Celso Dayrit as the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee on November 26. Eric Buhain, who is set to head the Games and Amusements Board, bid goodbye his role as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission on December 15, with his replacement still left in the air. Coupled with the appointment of former Tourism secretary Obet Pagdanganan as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Organizing Committee, leadership in Philippine sports experienced a massive shakeup on the cusp of the country?s hosting of the 2005 SEA Games next December. Forty-one sports, 388 events, less than 12 months to go and funding woes?to the tune of P900 million?still hovering preparations? Duplicating the 1991 hosting will need a lot of work.
? Chess paradox?It is the sport that saw more quarrels and mudslinging than a children?s playground. But chess succeeded where it mattered the most: on the checkered board. Two Filipinos earned GM-elect status, with Nelson Mariano II clinching official Grandmaster status in October after earning the final GM norm in Bangkok. Mark Paragua is waiting to officially become the sixth Filipino Grandmaster after becoming the youngest RP player to bag GM norm in a tough Ukraine tournament in September. To add icing to the cake, the RP men?s team?ranked 40th in the tournament?finished from 12th to 19th, and the women?s team?seeded 65th?placed 48th to 54th in the Chess Oympiad in October in Spain, thus proving that sports can lift off despite politics dragging it down.
? Alex Pagulayan?Nobody thought there would ever be another Bata Reyes until the Canada-based Pagulayan won the World Pool Championships in Taiwan in July. His win not only ensures the future of local billiards in the global arena, but it also opened the dual-citizenship issue for Filipino athletes living abroad. He applied for it immediately after he won in Taipei and consequently won the hearts of every cue stick-wielding Pinoy. Pagulayan?s application was approved and once again the Philippines can call him its own.
? The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)?It might as well be the country?s last card in pushing back itself into the elite of Asian hoops. Through the PBA?s agreement with the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) signed only this month, a long-term program has been installed that will culminate in the 2007 Asian Basketball Championships. Once the national coach is named in the coming days, the ball officially rolls in the league?s own version of the Fellowship of the Ring, a quest that hopes to land the country a slot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
? Hate?Accusations of forged signatures in a liquidation report worth P1 million and the involvement of the National Bureau of Investigation, promised allowances that weren?t fulfilled, game-fixing claims in the Asian Cities tournament in Tagaytay, the walkout in the August elections were some of the issues that rocked an otherwise productive season in the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. Leadership conflict also ensued in the National Golf Association of the Philippines between its president Rod Feliciano and director Andy Dumlao, while legitimacy was the main issue between the Graham Lim-led BAP and Nic Jorge?s BAP Inc.
? Prodigies?Frances Bondad, the Australian-based 15-year-old winner of the RP Ladies Open in February. Tyson Sy, the 17-year-old 2004 promotions class winner of the Asian Formula Three. Michelle Bumgarner, the 14-year-old Filipino-German 2004 Asian Karting Open champion in August in India. Anjou Mauricio, the 14-year-old skateboarder and gold-medal winner in the Asian X-Games in February in Malaysia. Smells like teen spirit, indeed.
? Banishment?Five foreign-born PBA players were proved by the justice department to have no Filipino blood at all. Barred were Mick Pennisi, Davonn Harp and Jon Ordonio of Red Bull, Rudy Hatfield of Coke and reigning league Most Valuable Player Asi Taulava of Talk ?n Text from setting foot on PBA floor. The Trade Team, composed of professional national team members, were also banned from participating in the 2005 Tour Pilipinas, which hopes to give equal chance to more underprivileged cyclists.
? Underachievement?Team Philippines that appeared in the Jones Cup this year was embarrassing, finishing with a pathetic 1-8 record in July. The well-prepared, well-funded, vastly experienced, highly touted RP boxing team, said to be sure bets to take home a medal from the Olympics in August, flunked in Greece.
? Unhyped Winners?Wushu bets, led by world champ Arvin Tang?s four medals, reaped three gold, five silver and four bronze medals in November in the sixth Asian Wushu Championships in Myanmar. Christopher Yabut won the lone gold in the World Pencak Silat Championships last week in Singapore. Jayvee Agojo ranked 11th in July in the Junior World Golf championship in San Diego, the highest for a Filipino in nearly 20 years. Ni?o Surban of Cebuano won the only medal?a silver in the junior boys? cross-country?in the 10th Asian Mountain Bike Championships in October in Puerto Princesa. Allan Ballester and Liza Relox Delfin, Manila Marathon winners in November, gain unprecedented bids to the prestigious Boston Marathon.
