KUNG may sports na may malaking tsansa ang Pinoy sa international scene, isama na ang Netball at Handball.

Ayon kay Philippine Handball Federation secretary-general Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem, hindi mahuhuli ang Pinay sa naturang sports kung bibigyan nang mas malawak na pagtangkilik sa grassroots level.

“Beach handball could be a rich source of gold medals for the Philippines in international competitions in the near future. I could guarantee it,” pahayag ni Adalem, sa kanyang pagbisita sa ‘Usapang Sports’ ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) nitong Huwebes sa National Press Clun sa Intramuros.

“The Filipinos’ natural speed and agility, and the many beautiful beaches in the country where we can train makes beach handball an ideal sport for us,” aniya.

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“We really have a big potential to win a medal in beach handball, so we have to take advantage now. Dito we can really excel,” ayon kay Adalem sa lingguhang sports forum na itinataguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), National Press Club, PAGCOR, Community Basketball Association (CBA) at HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks ni Mike Atayde.

“In the coming SEA Games, ang mahigpit na kalaban lang talaga natin ay Vietnam. Naging No. 1 na sila sa Asia. But we beat them (Vietnamese) by one point in an invitational tounament in Dumaguete last year,” sambit ni Adalem.

“And only yesterday, we beat indonesia in an Asian level tournament in China. We lost to world No. 3 Qatar by only a slim margin but also won over Asia No. 9 Afghanistan. Magandang balita ito sa atin.”

Hindi naman nagbigay ng kayang prediction si Adalem para sa kampanya sa SEA Games.

“I don’t want to promise anything.Bago kaming sport. Ayaw namin maging maarte, maging pabigat. Sabi namin kahit one event lang na pwede makakuha tayo ng gold medal paia makatulong sa ating purpose in hosting na makuha overall championship,” sambit ni Adalem.

“With my experience as Cluster Head in SEAG 2011, lagi ko nadidinig na sinasabi magbigay ka ng gintong medalya.That cannot work. Tignan natin kung anong sport na mananalo tayo.”

But like in other new sports, Adalem said there is still a lot of work to do to make beach handball reach its potential.

“Our objective really is to boost awareness for the sport and hopefully gain ground,” explained Adalem, who credited former Philippine Olympic Committee secretary-general and now PHF president Steve Hontiveros and former boxing head and now Manila Cong. Manny Lopez for their efforts to boost handball.

“We started our work as soon as 2011 when we took over with the help of Steve and Manny. Parang baby natin ito. Pero madami pa talaga kailangan gawin,” sambit ni Adalem, vice president din ng netball.

Iginiit ni Adalem na unti-unti na nilang nadadala sa mga lalawigan ang sports.

“ “Yun naman ang aim talaga when we started. It was also the advise of POC Chairman Ricky (Vargas) to propagate the sport down to the grassroots level and every corner of the country. So we to the provinces. We went to Davao, We went to Visayas. Dumaguete. Tapos sa Ilocos. Tumutulong naman ang mga LGUs natin.”