Go calls for unity, teamwork

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reiterates his support to Filipino athletes.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reiterated his support to Filipino athletes seeing action in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that the country will host from 30 November to 11 December.

Speaking at the Philippine Sports Summit last Tuesday, the lawmaker said this is the perfect time to unite and work as a team as the Filipino athletes are in dire need of support to fire them up in their quest for the overall title against powerhouse teams in the region.

Go has been a vocal supporter of Philippine sports.

Even before winning a seat in the Senate last May, Go has been helping bridge the gap between Philippine sports and President Rodrigo Duterte in his capacity as Special Assistant to the President.

In fact, he served as head of delegation of Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifier and was instrumental in fielding the squad in the 18th Asian Games last year after brokering a meeting among various stakeholders like the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

He is also credited for raising fund to finance the golden quest of Hidilyn Diaz in the Tokyo Olympics as well as the entire Team Philippines in the SEA Games.

But more than that, Go is behind the filing of Senate Bill 397 or the National Academy of Sports for High School, which aims to establish a training center to develop the athletic skills and talents of high school students.

The sports academy will be patterned after the Philippine Science High School and Philippine High School for the Arts and will be built in the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, where the SEA Games will also be held.

It has an initial proposed funding of P150 million.

Go said giving the athletes extra push would definitely inspire them to win the gold.

“Just like a sports team, all of us are deeply passionate with sports so we must have unity and teamwork,” said Go, urging Filipinos to unite under the vision of “One Team, One Goal, Go for Gold!”

“We must share the ideas and pool our resources so that we can help professional Filipino athletes bag the gold in international competitions and hone the skills of the young athletes who show promise.”

Go, a basketball enthusiast who is often seen at the sidelines during PBA games and was with the Chief Executive when the national men’s basketball team played Italy in the World Cup, said he would not hesitate to throw the support he is giving Gilas Pilipinas to Philippine sports in general.

“I think you all know how much I love basketball and how I supported Gilas Pilipinas in its bid to make it to the FIBA World Cup,” said Go during the summit organized by the Games and Amusement Board.

“This kind of support is something that I would give to Philippine sports and the athletes in their quest for the excellence in the SEA Games.”

“That’s why I want to serve as the voice of the athletes in the Senate being the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports.”