Nat’l athlete rescues official, neighbors during flood

Elly Jan Nituda, a bronze medalist in last year’s Southeast Asian Games sepak takraw competitions, is a champion in life.The national athlete braved flood waters “three persons deep” during Typhoon “Ulysses” onslaught and pulled people out of submerging second floor windows to help them get to rooftops.

“It was adrenaline, sir,” said Nituda, who added he felt like he had an orange flotation device wrapped around him.

Nituda didn’t bother saving his personal belongings upon learning that Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Federation secretary general Irene Tanchanco was trapped in her home in flood-prone Provident Village in Marikina City. He left his small rented apartment on Thursday morning to help Tanchanco and ended up helping her neighbors as well, even as the raging waters were washing away his own belongings.

“I was no longer thinking about my things; the important thing is I’m alive and I was able to help others,” Nituda said in Filipino.

He found an unintended benefit from his heroics, too.

“This is super-training sir, very hard,” the 23-year-old Nituda said.

Nituda is among several members of the national team who were affected by the flash floods. Nituda said the homes of his teammates, SEA Games gold winner Emmanuel Escote and Junard Eringue, were also badly damaged because they were made of light materials. “But they are also safe, sir,” Nituda said.

Philippine Sports Commission executive director Guillermo Iroy said they have also received reports that athletes in canoe/kayak and dragon boat were also affected.

“I understand there are many of them; we are waiting for the report of the NSA (national sports association) affairs so we can coordinate and extend assistance to them,” Iroy told the Inquirer.