The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) foot the bill of Ian Lariba’s initial treatment at St. Lukes Medical Center.
Mark Velasco of the PSC was hesitant to reveal the agency’s move saying chairman Butch Ramirez wanted to be silent in helping out athletes in need like Lariba, who was diagnosed with acute leukemia, a blood-type cancer.
Ramirez confirmed PSC’s support to Lariba, who distinguished herself as the only table tennis from the Philippines to qualify in the Olympics.
“We don’t want to announce it but we promise to take good care of her because she plays for our country.”
The PSC, which is closely working with De La Salle University in helping Lariba, initially shouldered P300,000 and vowed to provide more as the Rio de Janeiro campaigner fights against a disease that is said to have no cure.
Lariba played five years for De La Salle in the UAAP and graduated of BS Management of Financial Institutions degree. She was two-time UAAP athlete of the year and was undefeated in all her years of stint as an Archer.
This is not the first time the PSC has provided assistance to former national athletes. It is also helping Olympic boxing bronze medalist Leopoldo Serrantes, who is currently in hospital due to acute pulmonary disease.
The agency has also extended help to athletics legend Mona Sulaiman, who suffered stroke recently.
Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation, which is currently holding the 2017 World Championship in Germany, came out with video on Facebook with athletes around the world expressing support for the Filipina player.
World No. 2 Fan Zhendong and no. 3 Xu Xin of China, and Romania’s Elizabeta Samara and Germany’s Petrissa Solja sent out their inspirational message to Lariba.