All news tagged PatrickGregorio

When sports leaders clash over power, one question must never get lost: Who is making sure the athletes win?

The battle lines are being drawn in Philippine sports, and weightlifting president Monico Puentevella has delivered a pointed message to the Philippine Olympic Committee, especially to its president, Abraham Tolentino, to stop interfering in the affairs of National Sports Associations or NSA's.

Speaking at a Senate sports hearing, Puentevella accused the POC of meddling in weightlifting and volleyball. He even linked alleged interference to the Philippines’ medal-less weightlifting campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics, claiming that two potential medalists were affected.

Those are serious allegations—and they deserve serious scrutiny.

But beyond the accusations lies a bigger issue that Philippine sports can no longer afford to ignore: When sports leaders fight over authority, who ultimately pays the price?

The athletes do.

They are the ones who spend years training, sacrifice time with their families, endure injuries, and carry the country’s flag into international competition. They cannot afford to have their preparation and opportunities caught in the middle of leadership disputes.

Another is the volleyball controversy, which adds another layer to the debate. Puentevella also pointed to concerns surrounding Alas Pilipinas, following complaints from players about support during the 2026 Asian Games. 

Meanwhile, POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino defended the organization, emphasizing its commitment to athletes and its role in shouldering expenses when government funding was delayed.

Both sides have made their positions clear. The next step should be to establish the facts, examine the decisions made, and determine whether the athletes received the support they needed.

Philippine sports does not need another power struggle disguised as a fight for its future. It needs accountability, coordination, and leadership that puts athletes ahead of organizational pride.

The Philippine Sports Commission, meanwhile, earned praise from Puentevella for its support of weightlifting. The weightlifting chief remains optimistic that the sport can deliver another Olympic medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

That optimism is welcome. But Olympic medals are not built on confidence alone. They require long-term planning, quality coaching, scientific support, proper funding, and a stable environment where athletes can focus on competing—not on the politics surrounding their sport.

If the POC believes its interventions are necessary, it should be able to explain them transparently. If national sports associations believe their independence is being undermined, they should present evidence and pursue accountability through the proper channels.

Neither side should be above scrutiny.

The real measure of leadership is not who controls Philippine sports. It is whether Filipino athletes are given every fair opportunity to succeed.

With LA 2028 approaching, the country cannot afford to waste time and resources on disputes that leave athletes wondering who is truly in their corner.

The mission should be bigger than any president, federation, or committee.

Less politics. More preparation. Less infighting. More medals. And always, athletes first.

The message from the Philippine Sports Commission is clear: Team Philippines is not heading to Aichi-Nagoya just to compete—it is being challenged to aim higher.

With the 20th Asian Games and 5th Asian Para Games fast approaching, Filipino athletes and coaches received an added boost after PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio announced an additional ₱6,000 allowance for every member of the delegation.

It may not be the biggest number attached to the campaign, but for athletes who have spent months training, traveling and sacrificing, every bit of support matters.

And Gregorio isn't stopping there.

The PSC chief revealed that should the Philippines surpass its four-gold-medal haul from the Hangzhou Asian Games, he will push for an additional reward for the entire delegation.

The Para athletes have an even bigger benchmark to chase: 10 gold medals, the number they won in Hangzhou.

Suddenly, Nagoya isn't simply about defending a medal count.

It's about beating it.

MORE THAN A NUMBER

Medal targets can sometimes feel like pressure.

Gregorio, however, framed the challenge differently.

His message to the delegation was that every athlete being sent to the Asian Games has the ability to win a medal—and potentially gold.

That belief could be just as valuable as any incentive.

For Filipino athletes, the road to the podium is rarely easy. Behind every medal are early mornings, long training sessions, injuries, financial sacrifices and countless moments when quitting would have been easier.

Now, they have another reminder that their efforts are being recognized.

FOUR GOLD? GO FOR MORE.

The Philippines returned from Hangzhou with four Asian Games gold medals.

It's a respectable haul.

But Gregorio wants the next chapter to be bigger.

Four is no longer the finish line.

The challenge is to surpass it.

For the Para delegation, the benchmark is 10 gold medals.

Those numbers are more than statistics. They represent previous victories—and a new standard for the athletes heading to Japan.

THE REAL PRIZE

The additional ₱6,000 allowance and possible rewards are welcome boosts, but the ultimate prize remains the same.

The podium.

The flag raised.

The national anthem playing.

The moment when years of sacrifice suddenly become worth it.

And perhaps most importantly, the realization that Filipino athletes belong among Asia's best.

Nagoya will eventually produce winners and losers. Some will return with medals. Others will return with lessons, heartbreak and motivation for another day.

But every athlete stepping onto the field of play will carry something bigger than a medal target.

They will carry the Philippines. 🇵🇭

Four golds?

Go beyond.

Ten Para golds?

Go beyond.

Because this time, the goal isn't simply to match what Team Philippines did before.

It's to prove that the next generation can do even more.

A new Asiad. A bigger challenge. A stronger Team Philippines.

And when the competition begins in Aichi-Nagoya, the message will be simple:

Don't just chase history. Make more of it.

Philippine Sambo Team Primed for Historic Run in Asia-Oceania Championships

The Philippines is set to take center stage in the international sambo scene as the country's top grapplers begin their campaign in the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Backed by months of intensive preparation, the 40-member national team enters the prestigious tournament with high hopes of delivering strong performances against nearly 500 athletes from 22 countries across Asia and Oceania.

National head coach Ace Larida expressed confidence in the readiness of the Filipino delegation, emphasizing that the athletes are physically and mentally prepared for the challenge after six months of rigorous training.

Hosting the continental competition for the first time in years presents a unique opportunity for Team Philippines to showcase its progress in the combat sport while competing before a home crowd.

Leading the national squad are reigning champions Sydney Sy and Aislyn Agnes Yap, who are determined to defend their respective titles. Sy will seek another gold medal in the women's +80kg sport sambo division, while Yap aims to retain her crown in the women's -80kg combat sambo category.

Also expected to contend for podium finishes are world-ranked standout Jomary Torres in the women's -50kg combat division and promising young athlete Sophia Novino in the women's -47kg youth class.

Another athlete drawing attention is former Southeast Asian Games judo bronze medalist Carl Aneseta, who will make his international sambo debut in the men's +98kg sport sambo event. Aneseta believes his judo background will help him adjust quickly to the demands of the sport as he seeks to make an immediate impact on the international stage.

Tournament organizers have also received praise for their preparations. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio commended the organizing committee led by Pilipinas Sambo Federation President Paolo Tancontian, noting that the event is expected to become another milestone in Philippine sports hosting.

The four-day championship not only highlights the country's growing strength in sambo but also reinforces the Philippines' reputation as a premier destination for international sporting events. With athletes arriving from countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, the tournament is expected to provide world-class competition and valuable exposure for local athletes.

As competition officially begins, the spotlight now turns to the Filipino grapplers who carry the hopes of the nation and the opportunity to make history on home soil.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and sponsor of the proposed budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), renewed his call for the regionalization of the National Academy of Sports (NAS) during budget deliberations on last Monday, November 24.

Go stressed that keeping the NAS concentrated solely in Luzon—specifically in its main campus in New Clark City, Pampanga—limits grassroots development and sidelines promising young athletes from the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Nag-file rin po ako ng bill para ma-regionalize ang NAS,” Go said, referring to his recently filed measure aimed at decentralizing the academy in line with the intent of the law that created it.

Go noted that while NAS operations are fully funded—citing an additional ₱294 million in the committee report, including budget for a new dormitory—geographical accessibility remains a major barrier for student-athletes outside Luzon.

He emphasized that expansion does not require constructing brand-new facilities, pointing out that many local governments already have sports infrastructures capable of hosting NAS satellite campuses.

“Sana ay ma-regionalize ito… at malagyan rin po sa Visayas at Mindanao,” he said, adding that several LGUs in Mindanao have already expressed willingness to host equivalent NAS setups.

During the hearing, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano underscored the need for continuity in national sports planning and aligning programs with international hosting opportunities. Go agreed, stressing the importance of proactive planning.

A long-time advocate for athlete welfare, Go authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11470, which established the NAS and introduced a dual-track system combining secondary education with specialized sports training. The academy provides full scholarships to student-athletes pursuing both academic and athletic excellence.

To widen access to this model, Go filed Senate Bill No. 171, or the National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025, which seeks to establish NAS campuses across the country—particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao. These regional campuses would uphold the academic and athletic standards of the main campus while ensuring equitable opportunities for rising sports talents nationwide.

It is a new era for Philippine sports as the newly-appointed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman, John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, rolls out a revitalized roadmap for the agency. 

At the heart of Gregorio’s leadership are three strategic priorities: enhancing the welfare of the athletes, professionalizing sports governance and facilities management, and harnessing potential sports tourism.

But the biggest takeaway from his address was a game-changing announcement: starting this August, all national athletes and national coaches will receive a Php 5,000 monthly increase in their allowance.

Patrick Gregorio has officially been named the new Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), succeeding Richard Bachmann, who had held the position since early 2023.

This announcement follows a directive from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who ordered Bachmann’s removal as part of a broader initiative to restructure leadership within key government agencies.

Before this significant appointment, Gregorio served as President of the Philippine Rowing Association, where he earned acclaim for his dedication to athlete development, grassroots participation, and elevating international competitiveness in rowing and other Olympic sports.

With extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, Gregorio is a seasoned sports executive and a respected figure in Philippine athletics. His appointment heralds a new era for the PSC, emphasizing enhanced performance, transparency, and sustainable development for Filipino athletes.

As the newly instated chairman, Gregorio is expected to bolster collaborations with national sports associations, improve athlete welfare initiatives, and lead preparations for major upcoming international competitions, including the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and the 2026 Asian Games.

The Philippine sports community now turns to Gregorio’s leadership, anticipating positive change as he navigates this pivotal chapter for Philippine sports.