By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Three Ilocos Norte athletes are in line for the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.
According to Ilocos Norte sports consultant Faivo Bartolome the three shortlisted Ilocano athletes that may qualify for the honors under the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are Jesson Cid, Eric Ang and Victorino Barba.
Raised in Dingras town, Mr. Cid is widely recognized as Southeast Asia’s best all-around athlete. At age 13, he began playing competitive basketball until sports officials persuaded him to try high jump. He later became the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) “iron man”. The UAAP even changed its rules to limit the number of events an athlete could compete in because of Mr. Cid, who excelled in a variety of athletic events.
Trap shooter Eric Ang from Laoag City and is an Olympian. He earned his ticket to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a wildcard entry and placed 24thout of 94 of the world’s best trap shooters.
After Beijing, Mr. Ang placed seventh in the Trap Shooting World Cup in Germany, the highest finish for an Asian so far.
Meanwhile, Mr. Barba, an equestrienne and brother of Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba is from San Nicolas. He won numerous medals in the South East Asian and Asian Games.
Mr. Bartolome added, “We are also looking at records of other athletes in the province who may probably be included in the list.”
Earlier, the PSC urged the Ilocos Norte Sports Development Council to submit their nominees for the search for Filipino sports legends.
The law mandates the PSC honor the sacrifices and achievements of the country’s sports heroes.
Established in 1999, the Sports Hall of Fame aims “to immortalize the Filipino Sports heritage and serve as in inspiration for our countrymen.”
By law, candidates eligible for enshrinement is limited to Filipino athletes, coaches and trainers who "have won a gold medal in any Southeast Asian Games, or silver medalist in any Asian Games or Asian Games or regional games, or bronze medalist in any Olympic or World Games, or a world champion in any professional or amateur sports competition.”