PH women’s wheelchair sa SEA Games?

HINDI hadlang ang kapansanan at kakulangan sa physical na kaanyuan para magsilbi sa bansa, maging sa Philippine basketball team.

KUMPIYANSA ang Philippine Women’s Wheelchair basketball team, sa tulong ni Pagcor Vice President for Social Responsibility Jimmy Bondoc (ikalawa mula sa kanan, second row), na magiging parte ng delegasyon sa international tournament. Kasama ring nagbigay ng suporta ang dating actor at CBA founder Carlo Maceda at maybahay.

Bigyan daan ang Philippine Women’s Wheelchair basketball team, kilala bilang Pilipinas Lady Warriors.

Binubuo nang apat na ‘Gabriela’ na may kanya-kanyang sinuong na kapalaran, kasalukuyang naghahanda at nagsasanay, sa pangangasiwa ng beteranong national coach para sa isang layunin – mabigyan ng dangal ang bansa sa international tournament.

“It’s our dream coming true,” pahayag ni women’s wheelchair basketball team coach Vernon Perea sa kanilang pagbisita sa “Usapang Sports” ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) nitong Huwebes sa National Press Club sa Intramuros.

“Unlike the men’s team, we formed this team only a few weeks ago. Our plan really is to showcase the talents and skills of our female players and be recognized,” sambit ni Perea.

Kasama niyang dumalo sa lingguhang forum na itinataguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR at HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drink ang kanyang long-time assistant coach Harry Solanoy at mga players na sina Patricia Camille Castro, Cecille Naceno, Kymberlee Dangayo at Jean de los Reyes.

“These four women have different inspiring stories to tell and I believe they best represent the character of the team. Sila na rin ‘yun magsisilbing tulay para makahikayat kami ng iba pang mga babaeng PWD na makakasama sa national team,” aniya.

“Actually this is the right time to form the national women’s team, especially with the international federation now pushing for the development of women’s wheelchair basketball.”

Bilang paghahanda, sumailalim sina Perea, Solanoy at ang apat na Lady Warriors sa International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Asia Oceania Women’s Development Camp kamakailan sa National Paralympic Training Centre sa Suphan Buri, Thailand.

Ang limang araw na development camp ay dinaluhan ng may 70 kababaihang PWD mula sa 10 bansa — Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Australia, India at Philippines.