Bambol plays role of cheerleader

PARIS — Cheering to a hoarse, waving a Philippine flag and, amazingly, even clapping intensely all at the same time and there you have Team Philippines’ No. 1 fan at the Paris Olympics – Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

From Tokyo 2020 where Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo won the country’s first Olympic gold medal, to the Vietnam and Cambodia Southeast Asian Games and Hangzhou Asian Games, Tolentino never fails to intensely cheer for Filipino athletes.

“Yes!” shouted Tolentino waving the flag with his right hand after Aira Villegas took away her first women’s flyweight opponent, Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco, at half past nine on Sunday night here and past 3 a.m. in Manila.

Tolentino didn’t mellow with his cheers for Carlos Yulo and his fellow gymnasts Levi Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo and Aleah Finnegan – who completed their Olympic debut –  and Joanie Delgaco who’s still not done rowing and fencer Samantha Catantan, who had to yield to a top-seeded Italian opponent in her first Olympics.

And Tolentino’s not one who will be slumping after four of the 22 Filipino Olympians here headed for the exit.

“After some eliminations, our athletes are starting to rise,” he said.