Pinoy BMX champ wheels a fortune

MANILA, Philippines - Asian Games gold medalist Daniel Caluag will receive his P1 million cash incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission today, barely two days after he ruled the BMX moto event in Incheon, South Korea.

It was the first gold medal for the Philippines in this Asian Games, and the 27-year-old Caluag, who lives with his wife and newborn child in the United States, made sure it wouldn’t get away.

For his feat, he will be rewarded.

Under Republic Act 9064, also known as the Sports Incentives Act, an Asian Games gold is worth P1 million, a silver P500,000 and bronze P100,000.

Caluag was to board an evening flight to Manila from Incheon yesterday. PSC commissioner Buddy Andrada was tasked to meet the Asian Games champion at the airport.

“Bringing back home the gold!” he shouted on his Twitter account the day after winning the gold.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and Andrada will present the cash incentive to Caluag at 1:30 p.m. at the PSC administrative building.

Caluag, who competed in the 2012 London Olympics, was tipped to win the gold in Incheon, and rule the event he also won in the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games.

Before leaving Incheon, Caluag got the chance to watch the semifinals match between Filipino boxer Charly Suarez and Jordan’s Obada Mohammad Mustafa Alkasbeh.

Suarez won the match and advanced to the final of the lightweight division. As of presstime, three other Filipino boxers were trying to make it to the gold medal bouts.

“Good job to (our) fellow countrymen moving on to the finals,” Caluag also said on Twitter.

Richie Garcia, PSC chairman and chef-de-mission to Incheon, hailed Caluag for winning the gold and giving the Philippines something to really cheer about in Incheon.

Caluag’s victory also came on the birthday of the country’s PSC top official.

“Niregaluhan niya ako (He gifted me),” said Garcia yesterday afternoon from Incheon.

Before Caluag’s victory, the Philippines struggled for 12 games to win the gold, with only two silver and five bronze medals to show.

Garcia hoped that Caluag’s victory would spur the remaining Filipino athletes in contention to deliver for the country.

“It’s not that bad as it seems. And we’re still vying for the gold in other sports. Let’s not give up hope,” said the PSC chairman.