TOO MUCH GREATNESS

Filipino sports legends carry SEA Games flag at opening ceremony

Is it even possible to squeeze in too much sporting greatness in just a single frame? Apparently, at the opening ceremonies of the 30th SEA Games, they did just that.

Eight Philippine veterans of the sports industry on Saturday carried the SEA Games federation flag during opening rites at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The eight veterans who carried the flag were Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Akiko Thomson-Guevarra, Eric Buhain, Alvin "The Captain" Patrimonio, Bong Coo, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, and Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno.

A retired track and field athlete, Vega-Mercado was hailed as Asia's fastest woman for eight years. She held record times of 11.28 and 23.25 for 100 meters and 200 meters track and field events, respectively, in previous SEA Games.

Retired swimming athlete Thomson-Guevarra, meanwhile, bagged the gold medal from SEA Games competitions for seven times.

Former swimmer Buhain, on the other hand, snagged 15 gold medals from previous SEA Games competitions.

Patrimonio, a retired professional basketball player, was hailed as the Most Valuable Player of the Philippine Basketballs Association for four times. The Captain also won a gold medal from the SEA games.

Four-time World Bowling Champion Coo also joined the legendary line-up.

Reyes, pool legend and four-time World Eight Ball Champion, also joined the roster. Reyes will compete in the 3 cushion carom men's singles for the SEA games in a bid to win the gold medal.

Retired boxer Velasco bagged two gold medals from the SEA Games and a silver Olympic medal. He is one of only three Filipino athletes to bag the country's highest Olympic medal — a silver — so far.

Last but not the least, Nepomuceno, a six-time World Champion in Bowling, completed the line-up. — MDM, GMA News

FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online