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Oldest Pinoy Olympian wants new athletes to be more dedicated




The oldest surviving Filipino athlete, who competed in the 1948 London Olympics, has questioned the commitment of current athletes who are potential representatives of the Philippines in international competitions.

In an interview aired for GMA News' 24 Oras, Olympic swimmer Jacinto Cayco, also an Asian Games double gold medalist in 1951, said athletes back then were more dedicated despite lack of financial support.

"Napakaswerte niyo kayong tumatanggap ng allowance, pati vitamins, lahat, may uniporme, training — kumpleto kayo. Pero kami, kahit isang pera wala," he added.

The report noted that the last time a Filipino athlete won a medal in the Olympics was in 1996.

Cayco also said he wants athletes to feel proud competing for the country, as the old players did back them.

"Every time tutugtugin ang national anthem, it keeps coming back. Tutugtugin 'yon, at syempre papasok sa isip mo na nakatayo ka, inaabutan ng medalya, nanalo ka at nagbibigay ng honor sa country," he said.

Cayco’s words come after Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter and San Miguel Beerman Marcio Lassiter both opted out of the Gilas training pool, with the reason that it wasn’t fair for them to possibly take away a roster spot from the original 12-man Gilas roster that placed second in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

"It wouldn't feel right for me to take away from players who deserved it. The guys who've been through the battles and wars, they deserve it. I feel like they have some unfinished business in Spain," said Lassiter.

Meanwhile, Slaughter said while he hopes to be part of the team in the future, the entire original roster, who finished runners-up during the FIBA Asia Championship, deserved to represent the country in Spain.

Gilas and Lassiter were part of the 17-man training pool named by head coach Chot Reyes, for the 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2014 Asian Games, later this year. - Amanda Fernandez / AMD, GMA News
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