The next year will be filled with new beginnings, new opportunities, and new wishes for Filipino sports fans. It has been an up and down year for our sports heroes, and we’re praying the next year won’t be such a mixed bag. Considering the disappointments the past week alone, here’s to a more consistently successful 2013, with our Christmas wish list.
KO victory in Pacquiao-Bradley II. We all know that Manny Pacquiao needs a tune-up match, a confidence-builder before Pacquiao-Marquez V. If he sets on a course to demolish the inflated Timothy Bradley, he will have accomplished two things. First, he will have a belt that he can use as additional leverage to entice Marquez for another go-around. And second, he will have given JuanMa more time to gloat over a hard-earned victory. It sounds unfair to Bradley, but he will merely be a stepping stone for what really matters to fight fans, another meeting with Dinamita.
KO victory in Pacquiao-Marquez V. Even if this happens late next year, I’m sure fight fans wouldn’t mind waiting for this wish to come true. Being the underdog now gives Pacquiao a couple of advantages. First, he already knows Marquez’s new tricks, so he and his camp can come up with strategies to counteract them. Also, he will have more motivation to focus on his training, all other trivial matters be damned. Though he is still obligated to keep fighting beyond next year, this is what everyone is now waiting for: his turn at redemption.
A solid core for the Azkals. Hopefully, next year will also mark the year the Philippine Football Federation will be able to solve its problem of player availability. The defeat of the Azkals at the hands of Singapore in the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinals underscored this loudly. Players have been in and out of the line-up, as the tug-of-war with their mother clubs in Europe continues. This just will not do. The players need to practice together. It will not suffice to have key positions manned by new arrivals still recovering from jet lag or who haven’t had acceptable practice time with the team. It simply isn’t done.
An emphatic SEA Games campaign. Since 2005, the country has slipped back in the biennial multi-sport event, and frankly, it’s getting tiresome. Individually and collectively, our national sports associations have to produce sustainable programs for our athletes to continue their upward development. It simply will not do for us to produce one-hit wonders. Let’s just focus on key sports where we have realistic chances of bringing home medals. For the other sports, let them win at the Asian level in their individual sport’s competitions first, before making them part of a larger delegation.
A new sports complex. Whether it’s in Clark in Pampanga or elsewhere, a new sports complex will attract sponsors, other users, and even foreign support. If it’s outside Metro Manila, so much the better. Let’s learn from 2005. Our athletes were busy training in China, They were not bothered by internal intramurals and other political issues in their NSAs. They were able to concentrate on training against Olympic champions and other internationalists. They were able to focus on the business at hand, and it produced the desired results.
More showcase title fights. This year ALA Promotions finally held a world title fight in Metro Manila, the first promotion at the Mall of Asia Arena. They proved once again that it can be done. Given their stable of current and emerging champions, they can only get better and better. With the backing of the WBO, the Aldeguers have managed to breed lasting champions like Donnie Nietes, and build a commercially successful string of cards with their “Pinoy Pride” series. They are at the tipping point of international notice, and this writer thinks it will come in 2013.
More mixed martial arts events. With One Fighting Championship (One FC) and Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) making big splashes in the Philippines, the Filipino fighters laboring long and hard under the URCC are finally getting their recognition as fighters worthy of international recognition. With the UFC venturing into Macau this year, they are so close to home, it would make sense for more Filipinos to get a share of the spotlight in the lower weight classes. It may happen next year or the year after, but it will happen soon.
Of course, we also wish for greatest success in basketball, billiards and our other favorites. The Volcanoes will be in the Rugby Sevens World Cup, and we have Filipinos conquering the world in bodybuilding, shooting, dragonboat, sport stacking, chess and other sports, as well. Our last wish is for our television networks to bring these sports mainstream attention, so they may stand shoulder to shoulder with their countrymen who are established giants around the world.
I’d even accept a gift certificate.