PH teams deserve cheer not jeers

One of the first things that struck the ABS-CBN television panel in the opening game of the Long Teng Cup in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, were the Filipino fans.

Made up mostly of women who carried a giant Philippine flag, flaglets, posters and placards and screamed themselves hoarse throughout the match—even after we were down by two goals in the first  22 minutes—they never lost hope in the new darlings of Philippine sports, the Azkals.

The fans surprised the panel anchored by TJ Manotoc and included sports fan Chris Soler, football coach Rudy del Rosario, as well as ourselves.

With coach Michael Weiss bringing in some astute changes in our formation, the Nationals came roaring back through two superbly crafted goals by Chieffy Caligdong and a well-taken penalty by Phil Younghusband before they were unluckily held to a 3-all draw by defending champion Hong Kong.

Clearly the Filipino fans enjoyed the game and the smiles on their faces, as some of our players raced to their area to greet and thank them when it was over,  told a story.

Filipinos abroad are now developing the habit, very much like our Asian neighbors from South Korea and Japan, to watch the many different sports events as a group and to cheer for our athletes no matter what the odds and whatever the result.

We saw this at the last Fiba Asia Men’s basketball championship, we witnessed it in the Jones Cup, and of course here at home at the various pool events where fans are still attracted by the occasional magic of pool legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante and World No.1 Dennis Orcollo.

What we cannot fathom is that there are those who continue to vent their negative thoughts on our national teams, totally unmindful of the fact that they represent our country and strive to the best of their ability to bring honor and glory to the fatherland.

What is even more distressing is that those who criticize and seek to downplay the efforts of our athletes in various national teams in international competitions are themselves incapable of doing anything that these gallant athletes are doing, either on the football pitch, the basketball court or in the boxing ring.

Indeed, many Filipinos both at home and abroad have taken to perennial harping on the negative which, regrettably, mirrors a distressing penchant of a small minority.

There should be a conscious effort to distinguish between supporters and apologists no matter who they are and where they come from.

The guiding principle should always be that these are our very own national teams and it is incumbent upon us to support them come hell or high water because it ultimately reflects a sense of oneness that has long been lacking amongst us Filipinos.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with criticism. Indeed it could very well be welcome and helpful. But it must stem from a genuine desire to build not to undermine or destroy and it should be driven by a commitment to help improve the present situation.

If Filipino women who are forced to leave their families and friends to eke out a living abroad can take time out and spend their hard-earned money to travel to various arenas to cheer and support our national teams, surely those of us who follow the action on television in the comfort of our homes, could do no less.