Resetting

2024 is about to leave the pages of history with vindicating, inspiring and promising sports stories for the country. On top is the successful Philippine campaign in Paris. Hands down. The 2 gold, 2 bronze medal haul is the best ever finish for any Philippine Olympic contingent. The Philippines placed 37th among 206 countries, 7th in Asia and number 1 in Southeast Asia.

Although the 4-medal count tallies the Tokyo harvest where a woman lifted the country to its inaugural gold with 2 silvers and a bronze, Paris rewrote herstory with histwory, 2 golds and 2 bronzes. It could have been more, an unexpected golfer and an expected pole vaulter placed just below the medal podium.

Another big story happened even before Paris. Gilas Pilipinas beat world number 6 Latvia by 9 points in the Olympic qualifiers. The marvelous men of heritage, natural and naturalized Filipinos stunned the host country, their own country and countrymen. And themselves.

While they lost to number 23 Georgia by just 2 points and finally lost to number 12 Brazil by 11 points, they made their strong presence felt in the company of world best. They notified world basketball there is such a country as the Philippines, better known for Manny Pacquiao and the beauty queens and many more in between, including disasters, man-made and nature-dictated.

Another breakthrough happened in local basketball. Meralco bolted out of a 14-year wait to win its inaugural title. Finally, a good reason to move on from the bitter memory of its biggest heartbreak in the Governor s Cup eight years ago.

Women s volleyball inches closer to men s basketball in terms of gate attendance and remote viewership. Its biggest story was written by the tall and pretty women of the winningest team. Creamline won their perfect tenth title.

The Cool Smashers swept all crowns of the season from all-Filipino to reinforced conference and the eight-day pocket tournament. The first ever grand slam of the league.

The Fighting Maroons redeemed itself before the year ended in the do-or-die game three against the Green Archers that bungled free throws and curiously replaced their star player at the most crucial time. Sweetest victory to the country s premiere state university, not only because it beat powerhouse De La Salle but more so because it beat itself and the demons that haunted it for so long.

It was a year when Filpino athletes with the biggest heart fought for flag and country and money, and filled the hearts of many, including the heartless and the heartbroken. Next year is another time to rewrite Philippine sports, hopefully a better narrative of sustained excellence. But hope is not a strategy, a better sports blueprint is.