MVP’s P10M produces dozen wins in SEA Games

PALEMBANG, Indonesia—The P10-million cash business mogul-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan shelled out to help fund some national teams’ expenses in the 26th Southeast Asian Games did not go to waste.

Pangilinan made the donation to taekwondo, boxing, basketball, tennis, cycling and football through the MVP Sports Foundation a few weeks before the contingent went to battle.

The taekwondo jins (4 golds, 3 silvers, 5 bronzes) and the boxers (4-1-1) emerged the biggest contributors to the Philippine cause, while the cagers reaffirmed their regional supremacy by handily retaining the men’s crown, and the cagebelles came very close to toppling the champion Thais.

Over in West Java, the cyclists, under the guidance of Philcycling president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, chipped in two golds through track ace Alfie Catalan in the men’s individual pursuit and John Mier in the men’s 30 km points race.

Netters Treat Huey and Denise Dy charged back to top the mixed doubles event in tennis Tuesday.

The under-23 Azkals, meanwhile, came here with no illusions of clinching a medal.
Overall, the MVP-supported teams collected 12 golds, one-third of the total gold haul of the Philippines.

MVP’s decision may be costly, but it was timely and wise.