Up to the last day of competition in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Filipinos cheered their athletes, in a groundswell of national pride following gold-medal victories in 5-on-5 basketball, jiu-jitsu, and pole vault events. Indeed, international athletic competitions showcase a country’s outstanding talents and serve as platforms for setting standards of excellence. It reflects how well it evolves and adapts to dynamic changes in the global environment. 

Ernest John (EJ) Obiena’s pole-vault gold medal triggered the jubilation. Now rated as the world’s number two pole vaulter, he has stamped his class as an Olympic-caliber competitor ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024. He was also the first Asian to clear six meters in Norway’s Bergen Jump Challenge last June. Obiena’s ascent has been guided by Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov who has mentored previous world champions. 

To pole vault is to “attain greater heights than could be jumped over, with the aid of a flexible pole that is firmly planted on the ground, then gracefully jumping over a high bar.” This is a good metaphor for overcoming formidable obstacles by using flexible and nimble methods. 

Hopes ran high for the country’s elite boxers, but the best performance was a silver from middleweight Eumir Marcial who earned a berth to the Paris Olympics next year. Previously unheralded, Margarita Ochoa and Annie Ramirez each won gold medals in jiu-jitsu, “a form of martial art and method of fighting that makes use of few or no weapons and employs holds, throws, and paralyzing blows to subdue an opponent.” 

Indeed, excellence in this sport mirrors the Filipinos’ vaunted resilience and resourcefulness even in the face of adversity, or lack of resources. 

Filipinos burst with euphoria after the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team methodically outclassed Jordan in the gold-medal game. This came 61 years after the country won in the 1962 Jakarta games. The champion team’s lineup was finalized barely two weeks before the start of the Asiad — after the country lost four out of five games in the FIBA World Cup. Head coach Tim Cone deftly shuffled his team in beating host China by a point in the semifinal game, the same razor-thin margin posted over Iran in the quarterfinal match. 
The country ended its bid with four golds, two silvers, and 12 bronzes for a total of 18 medals.

We salute our other 19th Asiad medal winners, namely: Arnel Mandal won the other silver medal in wushu. The 12 bronzes were won by Jones Inso, Gideon Padua and Clemente Tabugara, wushu; Alexandra Eala, tennis singles; Alexandra Eala and Francis Alcantara,tennis mixed doubles; Sakura Alforte, karate; Kaila Napolis, jiu-jitsu; Patrick King Perez, taekwondo poomsae; Patrick Glen Coo, BMX racing; Elreen Ann Ando, weightlifting; the sepak takraw men’s quadrant team composed of Rhayjay Ortuoste, Jason Huerte, Vince Torno, Mark Joseph Gonzales, Romsited Gabayeron, and Jom Lerry Rafael; and the same team in men’s regular competition.

Indeed, as noted by Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, the Gilas Pilipinas championship victory was like winning “a thousand golds” in terms of lifting the nation’s collective sense of pride several notches higher.