The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will request for major funding for the country’s top men’s curling team for winning the nation’s and Southeast Asia’s first ever winter games gold medal in the ninth Asian Winter Games last Friday in Harbin, China.
Just a few hours after their successful campaign in the winter continental games, the Philippine men’s curling squad flew directly to the Philippines Saturday night and attended a Sunday morning news conference at the Knights Templar Hotel over the majestic view of Taal Volcano.
“You did not ask how they survive without the support of the government? They were just recognized by the POC recently. If we meet the President (Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, we will make a [funding] request to support their journey to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games,” POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
“They are paying their own expenses every time, and it’s not a joke. So we really need that financial support to sustain and we’re preparing for all the competitions, even the developmental stage,” Tolentino added.
Tolentino also said that the Filipino curling team is entitled to receive cash incentives from the government or the Republic 10699 amounting to P2 million for the team for their massive accomplishments.
Filipino-Swiss Marc Pfister, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, Alen Frei and alternate Curling Pilipinas President Benjo Delarmente, and Marc’s wife Jessica who also served as their coach during the matches, have expressed their gratitude to Tolentino and the POC for believing.
“We would like to thank everyone here for helping and supporting us in this journey. It’s a great testament to show that we as a tropical country can play the sport and make success. We made everybody proud,” Haller, 45, a former Swiss national curling team, said from Zurich.
Pfister’s 16-week pregnant wife Jessica, according to the Curling Pilipinas, is eyeing naturalization to also represent the women’s team as a Filipino citizen in the future.
“That’s something new for us, a great opportunity to represent the Philippines in the Olympics or in the world,” Pfister, 35, who represented Switzerland in three world championships, said. “We are Filipinos, and we’re very proud of it.”
Marc’s younger 33-year-old brother Enrico also shared the same sentiment, saying they are really thankful for all the blessings and opportunities given by the POC.
Some of them are all expected to leave Manila on Tuesday for abroad.
The men’s team re-routed their travel to their respective countries due to their accomplishments – where they beat World No. 10 Japan, 10-4, in the qualification before dismantling host No. 17 China, 7-6, in the semifinal and surprisingly stunning No. 7 South Korea, 5-3, in Friday’s final match.
The Filipinos ended the round robin campaign with a 4-1 win-loss slate – their only loss came from South Korea in the elimination, 1-6 but got their revenge just on time.
“It’s wow, and really amazing that we won our first ever winter games gold, not only by the Philippines but the whole Southeast Asian countries. It was two days after Thailand won Southeast Asia’s first medal, which is the bronze medal,” Tolentino said as he introduced the men’s curling team to the media.
Speaking of reaching the Milano Cortina Winter games in February next year in Italy, there are two ways to reach the Olympics – one is the pre-Olympic qualifying in September where the top three teams will qualify and the top two in December’s Olympic qualification aside from points allocation.
No venues and dates have been announced so far.
But the Filipinos have only two-way chances to qualify for the winter Olympics – and that’s trying to secure a quota in the Pre-Olympic Qualifying event and the Olympic qualification – since they are far from the points allocation.
“There are only two ways to qualify, and that’s to be top three in the pre-Olympic and top two in the Olympic qualification,” Delarmente said. “But I believe our players will fight for it just like they did in Harbin.”
For Secretary-General Jarryd Bello, chances are huge in the two qualifications right now. “If we beat China and South Korea, there’s a chance to be on top of these two events. It is not impossible. In points allocation, it is impossible because we’re far,” Bello said.
The Philippines ranks at 51st and only has 1.318 points – very far to world’s No. 1 Sweden’s 84.085.
Ten nations each for men, women’s and mixed doubles will get Olympic qualification where host Italy is part of it as host nation.