IF long jumper Katherine Khay Santos makes it big as an international athlete, Filipinos should thank one iconic boxer, who never hesitated in lending support to this charming Baguio City native jumper.
While she had the potentials in competing in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, Santos was told by Athletics officials they simply had no budget to include her in their trip.
Katherine Khay Santo
But instead of feeling sorry about not getting an all-expense-paid SEA Games campaign, Santos requested officials to still make her part of the contingent and that she will be the one to take care of her trip.
Being familiar with the generosity of multi-division champion Manny Pacquiao, Santos tried her luck in convincing the boxing icon to help her defray the cost of her planned trip to Indonesia.
?He was training in Baguio back then preparing for a fight. Naglakas loob na lang talaga ako kasi kasabay ko siya noon sa training. Ipinakita ko ?yung credentials ko and in an instant sinabihan niya ako na pumunta na lang sa hotel niya,? said Santos.
Santos and her then-coach Lerma Bulauitan, who herself was a champion long jumper, proceeded to Pacquiao?s suite at the posh Cooyeesan Hotel and had a short chat with the boxing champion.
?Hindi na siya talaga nag-hesitate na tulungan kami kaya sobrang saya ko noon. I?m really thankful sa support niya because it gave me also a chance to prove my worth,? said Santos.
Santos proved that Pacquiao?s help was all worth it as the then 19-year-old athlete copped the bronze medal with a jump of 6.25 meters. Compatriot Marestella Torres took home the gold with a record-setting jump of 6.71 meters.
Santos though bombed out of the 2013 SEA Games edition in Myanmar after she failed to bring home a medal.
?Wala kasi ako coach noon kasi nag-part ways na kami ni coach Lerma kay medyo nag-struggle ako sa performance,? said Santos.
This time, however, Santos said she has been equipped not only to win a medal in the upcoming Singapore games, but also to have a good shot of tallying 6.70 meters, the qualifying mark for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
?Three months ako nag-training sa US under Fil-Am coach Jerry Cablayan and through him marami akong natutunan na technique that helped me improve my skills,? said Santos.
The 23-year-old Santos showed progress after her US training, which again was shouldered by her, when she recorded 6.40 meters during the Singapore Open last month.
?Think positive lang and focus sa event. As they say, just give your best and God will take care of the rest,? said Santos.
