World champ paddlers to PSC: What about us?

Members of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation on Monday has asked the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to grant them incentives following the team’s five-gold medal haul in last month’s Dragon Boat World Championship in Gainesville, Georgia.

The Philippine team, which also took home two silver medals, went to Malacañang on Monday and was presented to the media.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters the team sought his help, particularly in getting an incentive from the PSC.

“So we are appealing to the PSC, that they won the world championship, hopefully they will be granted an incentive the same way athletes who won in the (recent) Asian games,” Roque said.

He said he will bring this up to President Duterte so that he would also grant incentives to them the same way he gave winners in the Asian Games.

Hermie Macaranas said they did not expect to win since their opponents were all bigger than them.

“It’s a great honor that we won. We were able to raise the Philippine flag in Georgia,” Macaranas added.

Other team members are Ojay Fuentes, Mark Jhon Frias John Lester Delos Santos, Oliver Manaig, Reymart Nevado, Lee Robin Santos, Jordan De Guia, Roger Masbate, John Paul Selencio, drummer Patricia Bustamante and steersman Maribeth Caranto.

Head coach Len Escollante expressed her gratitude to Roque, PSC and Go For Gold, the private benefactor that financed the participation of the women’s team. —WITH REPORTS FROM JUNE NAVARRO